Latest Agribusiness Headlines
All the headlines from our Agribusiness Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Newfront in California Names Cannabis Specialist Word Head of Agribusiness
Feb 25 2020 // Newfront Insurance in San Francisco, Calif., has named Seth Word principal and head of agribusiness. At Newfront, he’ll oversee all aspects of cannabis as well as agriculture and horticulture coverage. Prior to...
Agricultural Industry Looks to Dogs as the Next Crop Inspectors
Feb 24 2020 // Dogs specially trained by the federal government’s Agricultural Research Service scientists have proven to be the most efficient way to detect huanglongbing — also known as citrus greening — according to...
Beyond Farming: Agritainment and Farm Liability Coverage
Feb 24 2020 // The business of operating a farm has evolved significantly in the past several years. It’s not just about planting, caring for, harvesting and selling crops. It’s often about other ways that the land can be...
Examining the Higher Death Rate for Older Workers: Viewpoint
Feb 21 2020 // U.S. workplaces have gotten a lot safer over the course of the past century. In 1913, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that there were 23,000 “industrial deaths,” or 61 for every 100,000 workers. In...
Farmers Insurance Expands Into South Carolina with Online Auto Insurance Policy
Feb 20 2020 // Farmers Insurance has launched its first auto insurance product in South Carolina, delivered exclusively through a new digital and customizable auto insurance policy available on Farmersdirect.com. The digital auto...
Jury Awards $265M to Farmer Claiming Drifting Herbicides Damaged His Orchard
Feb 17 2020 // A Missouri jury’s $265 million award to peach grower Bill Bader in his lawsuit against herbicide providers Bayer and BASF has raised the stakes for the two companies as at least 140 similar cases head to U.S. courts...
SCOR Buys Majority Stake in Brazil MGA with Agricultural Specialty
Feb 14 2020 // Global reinsurer SCOR said it has acquired a majority stake in AgroBrasil, an MGA focused on distributing fruit and grain loss of crop quality and yield insurance protection to Brazilian farmers. Neither side disclosed...
Insured Losses for Europe’s Storm Ciara-Sabine Could Hit $2 Billion: Modeling Firms
Feb 14 2020 // Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide estimates that insured losses due to wind from Europe’s winter storm Ciara (also known as Sabine) will range between €1.1 billion and €1.9 billion (US$1.2 billion and...
Sentenced for Crop Insurance Fraud, Kansas Farmer Must Repay $604K
Feb 12 2020 // A Kansas farmer has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for federal crop insurance fraud and bankruptcy fraud. Kevin Struss, 63, of Wakeeney, was also ordered to pay $604,303 in restitution. Struss pleaded guilty in...
Chubb Closes Out 2019 with Strongest Growth in Years
Feb 6 2020 // Chubb has plenty to celebrate about its 2019 fourth quarter. The global insurer enjoyed a large jump in net income due mostly to rate hikes and property/casualty underwriting gains. Chubb’s catastrophe losses also...
South Carolina Lawmakers Consider Relief Fund for Farmers
Feb 6 2020 // The South Carolina House is considering a bill that would create a relief fund for farmers that could be used before federal aid is granted or if help from the U.S. government never comes. The House Agriculture Committee...
Forget Robots. Dogs May Be Taking Crop Inspection Jobs.
Feb 5 2020 // Dogs specially trained by the federal government’s Agricultural Research Service scientists have proven to be the most efficient way to detect huanglongbing—also known as citrus greening—according to a paper just...
South & Western to Service AmTrust Farm/Ranch Business in Oklahoma, Texas
Feb 4 2020 // South & Western General Agency Inc., with offices in Addison, Texas, and Memphis, Tennessee, has reached an agreement with AmTrust to underwrite and service AmTrust’s Farm and Ranch business in Oklahoma and...
Moore to Lead New Epic National Farm & Ranch Practice
Jan 31 2020 // EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, has expanded their insurance offering in the Farm & Ranch Insurance market with a new...
Kentucky Agencies Peel & Holland, Riddle Insurance & Subsidiary R. Barga Finalize Merger
Jan 30 2020 // Peel & Holland Insurance has merged with Riddle Insurance of Madisonville, Ky., and its subsidiary, R. Barga and Company Insurance of Benton, Ky. The companies provide business property and casualty insurance, surety...
Kentucky to Pilot Hemp Research Program for 1 More Year Before Expanding
Jan 28 2020 // Kentucky’s Department of Agriculture will continue operating its hemp program as a research pilot program for another year before transitioning to a commercial program, the agency said. Congress gave state...
How Parametric Insurance Can Help Fill the Gap Where Traditional Insurance Falls Short
Jan 27 2020 // Although parametric solutions have been generally available since the late 1990s, they have more recently found their way into corporate insurance. Parametric insurance solutions offer a means to guarantee direct payout...
4 Racehorses Die at New Orleans Track in 10-Day Span
Jan 24 2020 // Four thoroughbred racehorses were euthanized after competing at a New Orleans track in a 10 -day span, prompting criticism from an animal advocacy group based in Washington D.C. Officials at the New Orleans Fair Grounds...
IMA Texas Expands to Fort Worth; Adds Schuler, Wallace
Jan 21 2020 // IMA Inc., a national insurance brokerage firm with offices in Dallas, is expanding to Fort Worth with the addition of two insurance veterans, Trey Schuler and Gavin Wallace. Schuler and Wallace will work in tandem. The...
Ohio Grain Handling Company Fined $292K After Employee Deaths
Jan 21 2020 // A federal agency fined an Ohio-based grain handling company over alleged safety violations that led to the deaths of two employees last year. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined The Andersons Inc....
