The importance of agricultural insurance

When it comes to the business of agriculture, insurance is not just a means of protection against major events, loss, and damage. Few industries are as heavily affected by unpredictable weather, fluctuations in supply and demand, and day-to-day operational challenges.

For this reason, agricultural insurance becomes a valuable risk management tool that allows farmers to plan for the future while having peace of mind that they are protected if their crop, machinery, or livestock should experience loss or damage.

Importance of agricultural insurance

Farm insurance typically includes coverage for:

• General liability
• Machinery
• Livestock

Though every farm has unique needs, we highlight the importance of agriculture insurance below.

Protection Against Loss Of Income

For most farms, the loss of livestock and damaged machinery is a major financial setback on the business. The loss of income from day-to-day operations include expenses incurred from the cost of repairing or replacing damaged property.

Farm insurance covers your business for lost days of work as a result of damage to machinery that includes:

• Tractors
• Seeders
• Balers
• Combines
• Sprayers
• Threshers

For farms with livestock including horses, pigs, sheep, goats, beef cattle, and dairy cattle, damages are covered as a result of unexpected events such as:

• Flood, windstorm, hail, and tornadoes
• Fire, lightning, explosion
• Vandalism or other malicious acts
• Theft
• Collision or upset
• Attack by wild animals
• Animal collision
• Building collapse or falling trees
• Smoke

Protection Against Legal Liability

Should an accident happen on your farm that leads to injuries to a person or damage to the property of others, agriculture insurance provides financial protection for you and your business.

This coverage, known as general liability, includes:

• Legal defence costs
• Legal liability from the ownership, use, or occupancy of the farm
• Accidental damage caused by you
• Liability from normal farming operations
• Liability for pesticide application
• Liability from property damage to rented residences or farm outbuildings

Note that general liability coverage is not limited to the above. There are additional options available that will depend on each farm’s operations.

The Bigger Picture

Agriculture is an important piece of the community and is among one of the most profitable with large returns. Perhaps the most important aspect of agriculture insurance is the protection it provides farmers for their investments, livelihood, and families. For this reason, working with the right broker who understands everything that’s at stake is the best approach to safeguarding the future of the business.