Latest Agribusiness Headlines
All the headlines from our Agribusiness Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Louisiana Citrus Farmers Seeing a Mass Influx of Salt Water
Oct 3 2023 // Commercial citrus growers have dwindled over the past few decades in south Louisiana, where farmers have had to battle hurricanes, flooding, invasive insects, freezes and drought to keep their groves alive. The latest...
Lingering Drought and Wildfires Plague Texas, Threatening Water Supplies and Agriculture
Oct 3 2023 // A lingering drought affecting more than 80% of Texas is causing wildfires, hurting agriculture and drying up water supplies throughout the state. This year’s drought comes less than a year after Texas experienced one...
Saltwater Intrusion Threatens Louisiana’s Citrus Industry, Farmers Seek Solutions
Oct 2 2023 // BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Commercial citrus growers have dwindled over the past few decades in south Louisiana, where farmers have had to battle hurricanes, flooding, invasive insects, freezes and drought to keep their...
Invasive Spotted Lanternflies Found in Illinois, Threatening Crops and Native Tree
Sep 29 2023 // SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois is the latest state to find invasive spotted lanternflies, a winged insect that`s spreading across the eastern U.S. and is subject to squish-on-sight requests in New York and...
Delayed Passage of Farm Bill Stirs Concern for Texas Agriculture
Sep 27 2023 // WASHINGTON — Key federal legislation to support farmers and consumers could get delayed due to the looming government shutdown, causing uncertainty for agriculture and nutrition programs in Texas. The must-pass package...
Florida Agriculture Losses from Idalia Reach $78M to $371M, Study Says
Sep 25 2023 // ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida agriculture losses from Hurricane Idalia are estimated at between $78 million and $371 million, with farmers also suffering widespread damage to such infrastructure as irrigation...
Drought and Low Mississippi River Levels Pose Challenges for Midwest Farmers’ Crop Transportation
Sep 18 2023 // DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A long stretch of hot, dry weather has left the Mississippi River so low that barge companies are reducing their loads just as Midwest farmers are preparing to harvest crops and send tons of corn...
Louisiana Prisoner Suit Claims They’re Forced to Endure Dangerous Conditions at Prison Farm
Sep 18 2023 // BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Men incarcerated at Louisiana State Penitentiary filed a class-action lawsuit Saturday, contending they have been forced to work in the prison’s fields for little or no pay, even when...
AM Best Revises Outlook for Georgia Farm Bureau Companies
Sep 18 2023 // The AM Best financial rating firm has slightly downgraded the credit rating outlook for two Farm Bureau companies after weather losses and a rise in reinsurance costs and inflation. The financial strength rating remained...
Wisconsin Lawmakers Settle Pollution Violations with Factory Farms
Sep 15 2023 // MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin lawmakers agreed Wednesday to settle allegations that two factory farms violated their pollution permits for more than a quarter of a million dollars. The Legislature`s Joint Finance...
USDA Expands Whole Farm Revenue Protection, Micro Farm Insurance Plans
Sep 14 2023 // The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced changes to the Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and Micro Farm Insurance plans in an effort to increase participation and access to crop...
Connecticut Farm Worker Paralyzed After Being Attacked by Bull
Sep 8 2023 // A 59-year-old Connecticut man was seriously injured after being attacked by a bull at the farm where he was working. Family members told Hearst Connecticut Media that the bull attacked Randy Janquins on Friday at a farm in...
Federal Government Opens Two Areas in Gulf of Mexico for Wind Farms, but No Companies Bid on Leases
Aug 30 2023 // The federal government for the first time on Tuesday opened two areas in the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas coast to build wind farms. Groups representing supply chain businesses hailed the chance for the new offshore leases...
California Labor Commissioner Cites Farm Labor Contractor and Growers $1.9M
Aug 29 2023 // The California Labor Commissioner’s Office cited farm labor contractor M.G. Luna, Inc. of Parlier and growers Madera Persimmon Growers Inc. of Madera and Willems Farms Inc. of Kingsburg $1,926,531, for wage theft...
Farmers Insurance Laying Off 11% of Workforce, Citing Industry Challenges
Aug 28 2023 // Farmers Insurance announced it will part ways with approximately 2,400 employees – 11% of its workforce across all lines of business. “Decisions like these are never easy, and we are committed to doing our best to...
Weather Extremes May Force More Farmers, Ranchers to Consider Costly Irrigation
Aug 24 2023 // The Texas ranch where Gilda Jackson trains and sells horses has been plagued by grasshoppers this year, a problem that only gets worse when the hatch quickens in times of heat and drought. Jackson watched this summer as...
How Satellites Are Helping Farmers Adapt to Climate Crisis
Aug 21 2023 // When to harvest is one of the most crucial decisions a winemaker can make. Too early, and the result is bitter. Too late, and it’s overly sweet. It’s a delicate balance—one that’s increasingly being...
Markets/Coverages: NIP Expands GrowPro Program to Include Agricultural Property
Aug 4 2023 // NIP Group announced the nationwide expansion of its GrowPro insurance program. Originally designed to cater to hydroponic growers, greenhouse operators, nurseries, garden centers, and indoor vertical farm operations,...
Baseball-Size Hail Makes Insuring Solar and Wind Farms Pricier
Aug 2 2023 // The Scottsbluff solar farm in western Nebraska was built to withstand most hailstones. But the icy pellets that rained down in late June were bigger than baseballs. The hail — part of a larger pattern of severe storms,...
NIP Group Expands GrowPro® Insurance Program to Include Agricultural Property, Offering Comprehensive Coverage for Hydroponic Growers, Greenhouse, and Indoor Vertical Farm Operations
Aug 1 2023 // WOODBRIDGE, NJ, August 1, 2023 – NIP Group, a renowned specialty insurance provider, is thrilled to announce the nationwide expansion of its highly successful GrowPro® insurance program. Originally designed to cater...
