To anyone planning a home improvement project, an addition or thinking about building a new home: Buyer beware. The price of lumber is hitting all-time highs. Larry Parker just experienced it. He walked into Lowe’s the other day to buy a sheet of OSB plywood for a home project he was doing at his home.… Read More »
Due to the virus emergency, Nationwide is providing our auto customers a one-time premium relief of $50 per policy for personal auto policies active as of March 31, 2020. If you pay your premium with an automatic withdrawal from your bank account, the $50 will be deposited electronically. If not, you should be receiving a… Read More »
Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen has approved NCCI’s August 30, 2019, worker’s compensation rate filing with an overall decrease of 3.0%. The rates will be effective January 1, 2020.
This year is shaping up to be one of the worst in terms of catastrophe losses the insurance industry has ever incurred, as data for the third quarter of 2018 paints a grim picture. During Q3 2018, the US was beset by the destructive Hurricanes Florence and Michael, which together caused more than $31 billion… Read More »
Whether you are relatively new to the insurance industry or are just looking for a change, we hope you consider employment on the agency side of our industry. The opportunities for personal growth and career advancement are great today for those individuals who are motivated to succeed. When we have a job opening, the description… Read More »
Workers compensation insurance rates will again dip in most states in 2018 as claims frequency declines and workplace safety continues to improve, two trends experts are crediting for the double-digit rate decreases proposed and enacted over the past several weeks. “It’s nothing new this year; it’s a continuation of what we are seeing,” said Jeff… Read More »
Section 563 of the 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Subtitle J, Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate (“Section 563”), Public Law 110–161 (PDF, 614 pages – 1.7 MB), amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The amendment requires the Department to “regulate the sale and transfer of ammonium nitrate by an ammonium nitrate facility … to prevent… Read More »
On October 9, 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the Adair Grain Company (dba West Fertilizer Company) following the April 17, 2013, explosion that killed 15. The citations included violations related to hazards associated with improper storage of ammonium nitrate under 29 CFR 1910.109(i). This memorandum provides investigatory and citation guidance to… Read More »
NFPA 490 was developed by the Technical Committee on Storage, Handling, and Transportation of Hazardous Chemicals and was tentatively adopted by the Association in 1963. It was further amended and again tentatively adopted in 1964. After further revision, it was officially adopted in 1965. Amendments to NFPA 490 were adopted in 1967, 1969, and 1970.… Read More »
The drought conditions are causing major concerns for both crop and livestock producers. To help address those concerns, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will be hosting six free drought meetings at the following locations. Meeting topics include crop growth and development under drought conditions covered, discussion on feeding drought damaged crops, including issues with… Read More »