Farmers, ranchers struggling with increasing costs of health care.
THEY struggle to produce the foods that can keep Americans healthy, but rising health care costs are making it increasingly difficult for U.S. farmers and ranchers to keep their own families healthy. Down country lanes dotted with corn and cattle, skyrocketing premiums and out-of-pocket health care costs are causing...

Farmers & Ranchers Livestock Commission Teams With Integrated Management Information (IMI Global) to Offer First Independent QSA Program for Sale Barn.
Program Designed to Help Cattle Ranchers Earn Premiums for Cattle at Auction CASTLE ROCK, Colo., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Integrated Management Information, Inc. (IMI Global) (BULLETIN BOARD: INMG) , a leading provider of verification and Internet solutions for the agricultural/livestock industry, and Farmers & Ranchers Livestock Commission...

Rating actions.
This edition reflects all financial strength rating changes--assignments, changes or placed under review--that occurred for life, health and property/casualty insurers domiciled in North America, as well as non-U.S. insurance companies, since this section last appeared in the January 2009 edition of Best's Review. See page 23 for...

CHS Acquires Winona River & Rail.
ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CHS Inc., a leading energy and grain-based foods company, has completed its acquisition of Winona River & Rail, Inc., a subsidiary of Rosen's Diversified, Inc., Fairmont, Minn. The acquisition will strengthen the company's Midwest and upper Mississippi River crop nutrients position through...

ENTREE NOTES.
Byline: The Register-Guard Creative cooking with food box items Like any other meal, figuring out tasty, nutritious dishes to fix with the contents of a "food pantry" food box takes some time and creativity. The nutrition education program at Lane County's branch of the OSU...

CHS Distributes Record Returns to Owners.
ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CHS Inc. owners in 48 states are sharing in an unprecedented up to $343 million disbursement as a result of the leading energy and grain-based foods company's record fiscal 2008 earnings. It marks the fifth consecutive record return to owners by CHS...

CHS Reports Earnings of $137.3 Million for 1st Quarter 2009.
ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CHS Inc. , a leading energy and grain-based foods company, today reported earnings of $137.3 million for the first quarter of its 2009 fiscal year. Net income for the quarter (Sept. 1 - Nov. 30, 2008) compared with $300.9 million...

CHS Foundation Now Accepting Scholarship Applications.
ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- High school and two-year college students are invited to apply for a $1,000 scholarship from the CHS Foundation, the major giving entity of CHS Inc., an energy, grains and foods Fortune 200 company. The CHS Foundation will award 25 $1,000...

Tractor Supply Company Announces Executive Management Promotions.
~ Gregory A. Sandfort Named President ~ ~ Stanley L. Ruta Named Chief Operating Officer ~ BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tractor Supply Company , the largest retail farm and ranch store chain in the United States, today announced two executive management promotions. Gregory...

Good news for agriculture: Storms help build snowpack.
Byline: The Register-Guard The winter storms that hit Oregon in December will be costing state and local governments money for cleanup and repairs on into the spring. But, on the plus side, winter snowstorms will help farmers and ranchers come summer. "As the...