Latest Agribusiness Headlines

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

AIR Analyzes ‘China’s Worst Winter Weather in 50 Years’

Feb 6 2008 // A report from Boston-based AIR Worldwide, analyzes the havoc caused by a series of winter storms that have been sweeping across China for nearly a month. AIR described them as the “China’s worst winter storms...

Lawmakers Look to Help December Flood Victims

Feb 4 2008 // There’s silence in John Brunoff’s Washington dairy farm, except for the sound of a lone worker hosing an empty 5,000-gallon milk tank.Just nine weeks ago, more than 270 cows filled this organic dairy farm with...

Farmers to Add 400 Agents in Wis.

Jan 31 2008 // Farmers Group Inc. says it plans to recruit and train 400 new agents in the Milwaukee and Madison areas in an expansion that the insurer says could ultimately create 1,000 new jobs in Wisconsin.The company will invest...

Ascension to Acquire Calif.-based Pan American Underwriters

Jan 28 2008 // Ascension Insurance Inc. signed an agreement to acquire the assets of the California -based insurance agency, Pan American Underwriters Inc.Pan American is a wholly owned subsidiary of PAULA Financial (Pink Sheets:PFCO)....

PartnerRe January P/C Renewals around $2 Billion

Jan 25 2008 // Bermuda-based PartnerRe Ltd. announced that during the January 1 renewal season it expects to write and bind approximately $2.0 billion of Non-Life premium. The figure ” does not include PartnerRe’s Non-Life...

Corvallis Earns Farmers’ Secure City Award

Jan 24 2008 // Corvallis, Ore., has been named the “Number One Most Secure Place to Live in the U.S.,” according to a 2007 survey released by Farmers Insurance Group. The survey, divided into three groups, found that...

China- New Zealand Trade Pact Said to Cover Insurance But Details Scarce

Jan 23 2008 // New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Goff said this week he’s hopeful China and New Zealand have completed formal talks to finalize a free trade agreement between the two states — the first such deal by China with an...

La. Ag Commissioner Pulls Agency Employees off Construction Projects

Jan 17 2008 // Louisiana’s new agriculture commissioner, Mike Strain, wasted no time in ending his department’s much criticized use of non-construction employees for major building projects.The state’s Office of Risk...

Declarations

Jan 13 2008 // Very Bad News“America’s job-creators pay attention to the Judicial Hellholes report. This is very bad news for Oklahoma, and it is the latest in a long list of damaging publicity Gov. Henry created for our...

Farmers Appoints Executive VP/CFO

Jan 11 2008 // Los Angeles-based Farmers Group Inc., announced the appointment of Scott Lindquist, currently controller of Genworth Financial, to the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer. Lindquist will take...

Mass. Horse Farm Charged with Workers’ Comp Premium Fraud

Jan 10 2008 // Update: On Nov. 3, 2008, Christopher Mersereau and his corporation, Stoneymeade Farm LLC, located in Concord, Mass., entered into an agreement with the office of Attorney General Martha Coakley resolving charges originally...

Sequoia Insurance Offers California Agribusiness Program

Jan 9 2008 // Monterey, Calif.-based Sequoia Insurance Co., has introduced Agricultural Edge, a program designed in partnership with California agents to serve California agribusiness. Target markets include many of the Golden...

Georgia Insurance Agency Announces Acquisition of Magnum OPUS

Jan 8 2008 // Carrollton, Ga.-based Britt/Paulk Insurance Agency Inc., acquired Idaho-based Magnum OPUS and all of its assets in a transaction that took effect on Jan.1. Magnum OPUS will begin operating as the Britt/Paulk Boise, Idaho...

Farmers Contributes $62,000 to La Jolla Mission Indians to Rebuild After Fires

Jan 8 2008 // Los Angeles-based Farmers Group Inc. announced it is presenting $62,000 to the La Jolla Band of Mission Indians to help rebuild after the Southern California fires of 2007. “The La Jolla Tribe felt first-hand the...

Tennessee Auction Barn Burns in Fayetteville, No Injuries Reported

Jan 4 2008 // A large livestock auction barn in Fayetteville was destroyed by a fire early Wednesday morning but no people or animals suffered injuries.The Tennessee Livestock Producers Association — a service of the Tennessee Farm...

Washington Increasing Minimum Wage 14 Cents

Dec 28 2007 // Washington’s minimum wage will increase 14 cents to $8.07 an hour beginning Jan. 1, 2008, according to the Department of Labor and Industries.Washington’s minimum wage applies to workers in both agriculture and...

Agritourism Grows in Okla.

Dec 28 2007 // Two of Oklahoma’s largest industries, agriculture and tourism, have combined to give local tourist destinations a new level of exposure.The Oklahoma Agritourism initiative, a partnership between the Oklahoma Tourism...

Storm May Only Dent Oregon Economy, Damage Still Serious

Dec 18 2007 // The Pacific storm that toppled trees and cut off power for days along the northern Oregon coast earlier this month left serious damage in the three counties that bore its brunt but may only dent the statewide...

Farmers Insurance Wants Steep Rate Hike in Texas’ Gulf Counties

Dec 17 2007 // Farmers Insurance has indicated it wants to raise home insurance rates 20 to 30 percent along the Texas coast, while reducing rates in many other areas.The company’s rate filing with the Texas Department of Insurance...

Farmers Insurance Offers One-Year Auto Policy in Alabama

Dec 11 2007 // Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, including Farmers Insurance Exchange will offer an annual auto insurance policy in Alabama that will allow auto insurance policyholders and new customers to choose a full-year auto...