USA - North Carolina man accused of $5M crop insurance fraud scheme

02.05.2018 760 views
Federal prosecutors have accused a North Carolina man of stealing more than $5 million in federal crop insurance funds over a four-year period. U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon Jr. said in a news release multiple charges are filed against 43-year-old James Scott Wiggins of Wayne County, including making false statements to federal agencies and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Officials said Wiggins and his co-conspirators owned and rented farmland in Lenoir, Wayne, and Greene counties. Higdon said that between 2007 and 2011, the conspirators collectively filed false crop insurance and federal crop disaster relief claims, manipulated transactions to evade reporting requirements and engaged in various financial transactions to conceal the fraud. According to Higdon, the conspirators paid farming expenses and outstanding loan balances with the money secured through the fraud. Source - https://www.insurancejournal.com
25.10.2026

Dominican Republic - Tornado and rain cause crop damage in Valverde

A gust of wind described by producers and agricultural authorities as a small tornado caused considerable damage to banana and plantain plantations in Valverde province, where heavy rains on Wednesday afternoon affected hundreds of acres of crops and threaten the income of farmers in the area.

25.10.2026

Taiwan - Typhoon Champi causes NT$133 million in agricultural losses

Yunlin accounts for 82% of estimated damage, with garlic hit hardest.

25.10.2026

Financial safety nets and smart farming are key to climate resilience for farmers in India’s drylands

Financial inclusion, crop insurance, and public work programs are bridging the resilience gap for marginal farmers in India’s drylands, proving that institutional support matters more than farm size.

25.10.2026

India - MP Irrigation Project to Benefit 72,000 Farmers

Madhya Pradesh has launched a ₹2,387-crore irrigation project for 260 villages in Dhar and Jhabua, targeting 57,422 hectares and 72,000 farmers.

25.10.2026

Southeast Asian haze cuts vegetable supplies and raises prices in Singapore

Prolonged haze across Southeast Asia is affecting vegetable imports into Singapore, with wholesalers reporting reduced supplies, smaller crops, and higher prices. Reduced sunlight is limiting photosynthesis and slowing crop growth.

25.10.2026

Camellia warns of trading loss as costs rise and crop prices weaken

Camellia expects a trading loss of £3 million to £5 million for 2026, reversing last year’s £1 million trading profit as rising costs and weaker avocado and macadamia prices squeeze the agricultural group.

22.10.2026

USA - Cotton Producers Face New ARC PLC Decision Deadline

The special provision giving producers the higher of ARC or PLC for 2025 will not continue next year.

22.10.2026

Pakistan - Punjab unveils £300,000 climate-resilient agriculture project for Cholistan and Thal

The Government of Punjab announced a 300,000-pound pilot project to establish climate-resilient agriculture across arid desert regions. The 12-month targeted initiative specifically focuses on farming communities operating within the vulnerable Cholistan and Thal desert ecosystems.