Agricultural News

Former Calif. State Fund President Moves To Zenith National Insurance

Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Zenith National Insurance Corp. announced that on March 15, 2010, Janet Frank will be joining it as president and chief operating officer of the company’s principal operating subsidiary, Zenith Insurance Co. She will also be an executive …

Pan-American Life Creates Pan-American Benefits Solutions

New Oreleans-based Pan-American Life Insurance Group announced the launch of its new member company, Pan-American Benefits Solutions Inc. Pan-American Benefits Solutions is a provider of group benefit programs that offer solutions for the pressures of rising medical insurance costs in …

People

Virginia-based specialty insurer Markel Corp. announced that its President and Chief Operating Officer Paul W. Springman resigned. Springman had been on a leave of absence since late October. The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) named …

Uneven Expectations

Economy to Recover in Some States Before Others The most recent reports of property/casualty insurers indicate a return to profits, thanks in large measure to a quiet hurricane season. But behind the rosy reports is a thorny problem — that …

Wet, Cool Year in Arkansas; Fewer Tornadoes Than ’08

First there was the ice that blanketed the northern third of Arkansas. Then the tornado that ripped through Mena. Next came rain – record-breaking amounts of it in 15 Arkansas cities and areas. Long, soaking rains and quick, heavy downpours …

Insurance Skills Center Names Segale President

Marjorie Segale has been promoted to president of Insurance Skills Center (ISC), a Pleasanton, Calif.-based education company owned by IBA West Service Corp. “Marjorie has held key positions with ISC since she was hired in 1989,” said Insurance Brokers and …

Hawaii Drought Earns Disaster Area Designation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Maui County and the Big Island primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused this year by continuing drought. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement Friday in a Washington news release. He …

Economists Estimate $309M Arkansas Crop Losses

Rains late in the growing season that inundated some cropland and pummeled rice and cotton plants caused an estimated $309 million in losses, according to economists at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. The $309 million loss is equal …

WTO Members Narrow Gaps on Standards in Doha Round Advance

Trading powers have made significant progress this week narrowing their differences on non-tariff barriers — the health or safety standards that can be abused to block imports, a senior diplomat said on Thursday. The movement is a rare sign of …

California Commissioner Asks Farmers to Review Insurance

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner today announced that due to the recent frost warnings issued throughout the San Joaquin Valley, farmers should take a close look at their crop insurance policies to make sure they are up-to-date and offer enough …