U.S. Agriculture Department

• Crop Insurers, Agents Adjusting To Government Subsidy Cuts

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  November 15, 2010

  A vibrant farm industry is currently helping the crop insurance industry cope with the Agriculture Department's decision to substantively cut back its subsidy program.

• Crop Insurers, Agents Adjusting

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  October 29, 2010

  A vibrant farm industry is currently helping the crop insurance industry cope with the Agriculture Department's decision to substantively cut back its subsidy program, "but every year is a new year."

• NCIS President Parkerson To Retire At End Of Month

  By Staff Writer  |  August 24, 2010

  Effective Aug. 31 Robert Parkerson, president of National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS), will retire, the organization said.

• Agents, Feds Clash Over Proposed Cap On Crop Insurance Commissions

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  August 16, 2010

  Independent agents and underwriters sparred with U.S. Agriculture Department representatives over agent commission caps put forth as part of the mandated cuts to the federal crop insurance program during a recent House subcommittee hearing.

• Agents Blast Agriculture Dept. On Crop Deal

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  July 1, 2010

  Independent insurance agents are blasting a decision by the U.S. Agriculture Department to impose a crop insurance contract on the industry that includes restrictive caps on agent commissions.

• Crop Insurers Challenge USDA Profitability Study

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 7, 2010

  Crop insurers are challenging a new study on their profitability commissioned by the U.S.D.A., saying it is misleading and should not be used to set the rate of return for crop insurers participating in the Federal Crop Insurance Program.

• Insurance Agents Angry Over U.S. Crop Program Changes

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  March 1, 2010

  Crop insurance carriers and independent agents say the U.S. Agriculture Department's latest proposed cuts in subsidies in the program as well as a "soft cap" on agents' commissions are both unwarranted and hurtful.

• Insurers Slam Crop Insurance Program Cuts

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  January 21, 2010

  Proposed cuts for the U.S. Agriculture Department's subsidy to the crop insurance program are excessive and will likely lead to more consolidation in a shrinking private crop insurance industry, an insurers' representative told the agency.