Latest Agribusiness Headlines

All the headlines from our Agribusiness Topic Page, ordered by recency.

House Plan Would Cut Crop Insurance Cost

Mar 20 2012 // U.S. farm and crop insurance subsidies would be cut by $30 billion over 10 years under a proposal made by the House of Representatives Budget Committee chairman on Tuesday, far larger reductions than agricultural-state...

La Niña to Fade but South Should Expect Dry Conditions

Mar 19 2012 // The La Niña weather pattern blamed for a devastating drought in Texas and a bad dry spell in South America should be gone by the end of April, but its impact will persist in large swaths of the southern United States.The...

Farmers Names Pratt Head of Distribution for California

Mar 9 2012 // Larry Pratt, Farmers Insurance vice president of sales, was appointed as head of distribution for California for Los Angeles-based Farmers. Pratt started with Farmers in June 1990 in Vancouver, Wash. Prior to being...

La Nina to Fade But South Should Expect Dry Conditions

Mar 8 2012 // The La Nina weather pattern blamed for a devastating drought in Texas and a bad dry spell in South America should be gone by the end of April, but its impact will persist in large swathes of the southern United States...

Best Affirms Endurance Specialty and Subs ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

Mar 6 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Bermuda-based Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd. and its affiliates. Best...

North Carolina Farm Bureau to Raise Homeowners’ Rates, Drop Policies

Feb 27 2012 // North Carolina’s third largest homeowners insurer is looking to reduce its exposure in the state by increasing rates and rolling back its policyholder numbers, citing steep increases in reinsurance costs.The North...

2 Virginia Localities Declared Primary Disaster Areas

Feb 22 2012 // Isle of Wight County and the city of Suffolk in Virginia have been declared as primary disaster areas because of damage caused by excessive heat, storms and excessive rainfall in 2011. The Virginia Department of...

Midwest Farmers Urged to Buy Crop Insurance Due to Dry Weather

Feb 22 2012 // A relatively snow-free winter in the Upper Midwest has some officials worried about damage to agriculture if the dry weather persists into spring planting.Minnesota’s agriculture and commerce commissioners, Dave...

Keeping up With the Greens: What to Know About Hobby Farm Insurance

Feb 20 2012 // The Green family owns a small farm. It’s not their primary source of income, but it is a lifestyle choice, and their hobby farm is just that – a hobby. The Green family grows fruits and vegetables as their...

Midwest Declarations

Feb 20 2012 // “Livestock have minds of their own.”– Nebraska Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala, author of a bill that would require drivers who hit livestock on Nebraska roads to have a higher burden of proof in showing that...

Garamendi Introduces Flood Insurance for Farmers Act

Feb 15 2012 // Congressman John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, Calif., on Tuesday introduced the Flood Insurance for Farmers Act of 2012 to help offset the cost of flood insurance that will likely be required in many of the state’s...

Disaster Declaration for Vog Damage in Hawaii Renewed

Feb 13 2012 // Continuing vog has caused extensive damage to Big Island vegetable crops, like leafy greens, orchards, flowers and ranch grasses.In response, U.S. Department of Agriculture has renewed a disaster declaration for Hawaii...

Nebraska Cattle Liability Bill Set for Hearing

Feb 9 2012 // Motorists who strike livestock on Nebraska roads could have a tougher time winning negligence lawsuits against farmers and ranchers, under a bill set for a legislative hearing. A proposal by Ogallala Sen. Ken Schilz would...

W.Va. Governor Issues Flood Disaster in Jackson County

Feb 8 2012 // Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has declared an agriculture flood disaster in Jackson County stemming from heavy rains in late November. The declaration, made on Tuesday, means the state Department of Agriculture can apply for...

USDA Giving Arizona $5.2 Million in Disaster Funds

Feb 6 2012 // Arizona is set to get $5.2 million in disaster aid from the Department of Agriculture.USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award as part of more than $300 million in emergency assistance to 33 states and Puerto Rico....

Farmers Insurance Rate Hike in Texas Set for March

Feb 3 2012 // Farmers Insurance will raise homeowner premiums by nearly 10 percent after Texas regulators declined to object to the increase. The Dallas Morning News reported that the rate hike, set for mid-March, will apply to about...

Australia Evacuates Flooded Towns; Coal Mines Close

Feb 3 2012 // Heavy rains shut four coal mines in eastern Australia on Friday as military helicopters evacuated stranded residents from inundated towns, and authorities warned of further flash flooding.More than 11,000 people in...

Insurance Fund Would Aid Farmers, Ranchers Still Owed $100M by MF Global

Feb 3 2012 // U.S. farmers and ranchers who had accounts with failed broker MF Global have got back the bulk of their money but are still owed about $100 million, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange indicated on Thursday after announcing a...

Wasington: 15 Counties Are Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Feb 1 2012 // The U.S. Agriculture Department has designated 15 Washington counties as primary natural disaster areas due to extreme weather conditions in the first seven months of 2011.Sen. Maria Cantwell says farmers in those areas...

Kansas Ag Secretary Seeks Waiver for Illegal Immigrant Workers

Jan 31 2012 // Facing pressure from large dairies and feedlots desperate for workers, Kansas Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman is seeking a federal waiver that would allow companies to hire illegal immigrants.Rodman has met several times...