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

02.05.2018 430 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
03.12.2025

India - Rodents destroy 42 pc crops in Mizoram, over 5K farmers affected

According to the Agriculture Department, Mamit district, which shares borders with Bangladesh and Tripura, was the worst hit.

03.12.2025

Hailstorm damages half of Argentinian cherry crop in the western Middle Valley

The storm that hit western Valle Medio in Argentina on Sunday threatened the cherry harvest. Hail covered roughly 30 kilometers from Chelforó to near Chimpay, with a width of 3 to 4 kilometers, according to producers' reports. 

03.12.2025

Jamaica - Seeds of Hope Project brings new life to agriculture

Farmers across Jamaica, especially those in hurricane-ravaged parishes, are now receiving a lifeline as the Seeds of Hope Project prepares seedlings for distribution.

03.12.2025

Swedish firm signs deal to explore wind power for Chilean offshore aquaculture

Swedish wind technology developer SeaTwirl has entered into an agreement with an undisclosed global industrial supplier to conduct a feasibility study on the electrification of fish farms in Chile.

03.12.2025

Minister Saparov reveals major projects to be implemented in Kazakhstan's agricultural sector

At the December 2 government meeting, Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov revealed major projects to be implemented in the country’s agro-industrial sector in near future, Qazinform News Agency reports.

03.12.2025

South Korea - Gyeongbuk's largest subtropical crop research site opened

Yeongcheon City announced that it will hold a completion ceremony for the Subtropical Smart Farm Complex on December 12, and will open the entire research greenhouse to the public for this occasion. 

02.12.2025

Indonesia - Agriculture ministry mobilizes food aid for flood-hit provinces

Indonesia’s Agriculture Ministry has deployed food and essential supplies for communities hit by floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Tuesday.

02.12.2025

Philippines' genetically engineered crops development in limbo

The Philippines could lose critical progress in the development of two flagship genetically engineered (GE) crops after a court ruling that suspended their commercial release is still under evaluation, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).