Farm Service Agency offers new insurance buy-up - AgMinute for January 5, 2015

A new USDA Farm Service Agency insurance option has broad appeal for hay and grass seed growers, according to an agency official. Click here for the full story

The Dairy Policies They Are a-Changin' - AgMinute for February 13, 2014

A margin insurance program for dairy producers in the new farm bill is a fundamental change from old price support policies and offers a lot of flexibility. Producers are encouraged to do their homework to determine if and how they want to participate. Click here for the full story

Juggling coverage — AgMinute for Sept. 4, 2013

An insurance expert says upcoming health care reforms could lead farmers to drop coverage of their workers.

Farm bill sightings — AgMinute for May 10, 2013

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said today that she plans to hold a mark up of a new farm bill in May, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., signaled that he intends to bring it to the Senate floor.

ACRE awaits — AgMinute for May 8, 2013

Growers have until June 3 to sign up for the USDA's ACRE program for 2013. It is designed to provide revenue insurance for loss of production or price decreases.

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Reluctant exchange — Idaho AgMinute for March 18, 2013

Many Idaho farm groups have thrown their support behind the governor's proposal to create a state-based health insurance exchange but only reluctantly because they see no other choice.

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Biotech committee continues — AgMinute for Feb. 4, 2013

The USDA will continue seeking advice on genetic engineering from the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology, a committee that last year recommended a potential crop insurance program for farmers harmed by biotech crops.

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Barley boffin - Idaho AgMinute for Oct. 23, 2012

The Idaho Barley Commission has funded an expert who will develop barley-specific training to help growers use crop insurance and advanced marketing methods to maximize their returns. Art Barnaby, a Kansas State University professor who helped the industry transition crop insurance to a public and private partnership program in 1980, will offer two workshops early next year.

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Dwindling value of home owner's insurance continues

Insurance Companies Dropping Dry Rot Coverage

It is common knowledge that most private home insurers do not offer homeowners flood insurance, relegating them to expensive Federal insurance programs. However, my wife and I were notified today by State Farm that starting this month they and many other insurance companies are no longer insuring homes for dry rot. This will cause an increased demand for building inspectors, as they are in limited supply already.

Homeowners will no longer be able to rest on their laurels and would be well advised to pay for a home dry rot inspection every 3 years to prevent very expensive home repairs. I can see the mortgage industry already wrapping that cost of regular inspections into the annualized cost of the of the mortgage, much like they due property taxes to assure continued value.

Home inspection services will be a very busy industry in coming years, not so much because of impending home sales but of that of personal assurances that structural status of any home will not cause financial nightmare.