Buy Farm And Ranch Insurance

Farm and Ranch insurance is a type of insurance coverage designed specifically for farmers and ranchers to protect their livelihood, assets, and property.

This insurance offers a variety of coverage options, including coverage for crops, livestock, machinery, buildings, and personal liability. The coverage can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual farm or ranch, taking into account the type of operation, size, location, and other factors.

The ultimate goal of Farm and Ranch insurance is to provide financial protection against unexpected events or disasters that can impact the financial stability and sustainability of the farm or ranch.

The average price of a standard Farm & Ranch Insurance policy for small farms and ranches ranges from $47 to $89 per month based on location, operations, claims history and more.

It is essential to distinguish between personal property and farm property as homeowners' policies do not cover farm equipment. Your agent may be able to provide both, but insuring anything in the revenue pathway from your farm should be done with a separate farm and ranch insurance policy.

Seven classes of property may be insured under the ISO farm and ranch insurance policy, as follows:

• Coverage A - Dwelling
• Coverage B - Other Private Structures Appurtenant To Dwellings
• Coverage C - Household Personal Property
• Coverage D - Loss of Use
• Coverage E - Scheduled Farm Personal Property
• Coverage F - Unscheduled Farm Personal Property
• Coverage G - Other Farm Structures

HAZARDS COVERED

There are three causes of loss options for farm and ranch insurance property coverage.

There is no requirement that each coverage on a policy have the same cause of loss. This means that Coverage A may use a Causes of Loss-Special, but the other Farm Structures use Causes of Loss - Basic.

This is another example of flexibility that the farm and ranch insurance policy offers.

Covered Causes of Loss - Basic Coverage: This includes only fire or lightning, windstorm or hail, explosion, riot or civil commotion, vehicles, aircraft, smoke, vandalism and malicious mischief, theft, sinkhole collapse, volcanic action, and collision that damages livestock or covered farm machinery.

Covered Causes of Loss - Broad Coverage: In addition to the basic causes of loss, this form adds electrocution; dog attacks; drowning and accidental shooting of covered livestock; loading/unloading accidents; breakage of glass; falling objects; weight of ice, snow or sleet; collapse of buildings; sudden and accidental tearing asunder of heating systems and appliances; accidental discharge of water or steam; freezing of plumbing, heating systems and appliances; and sudden and accidental injury from electrical currents.

Covered Causes of Loss - Special: Instead of listing the causes of loss that are covered, this protects against all causes of direct physical loss except for those specifically excluded or limited.

Some of the exclusions are: fire damage involving tobacco operations; collapse; wind or hail damage to dairy products, farm products, watercraft, or related equipment when any such property is in the open; weather-related damage to any personal property that is in the open; weather-related damage to the interior of any structure (or property inside the structure) unless the weather activity first creates an opening in the structure's roof or walls; freezing or similar damage to foundations, pavements, patios, fences, pools, and other property; and discharge or overflow from plumbing, heating, air-conditioning or fire sprinkler systems, or from appliances.

ADDITIONAL COVERAGES - FARM AND RANCH PROPERTY INSURANCE

The farm coverage part includes the following additional farm and ranch insurance coverages:

• Debris removal
• Reimbursement for reasonable repairs and for moving property that is endangered by a covered cause of loss
• Fire department service charges
• Removal of fallen trees
• Credit cards, forgery, and counterfeit money defense costs
• Cost of restoring farm operations records
• Extra expense coverage
• Collapse
• Pollutant cleanup and removal

OPTIONAL COVERAGES - FARM AND RANCH PROPERTY INSURANCE

Many endorsements are available to customize the farm and ranch insurance property coverage form to meet the needs of most farm owners and tenant farmers.

Every farm has significant investment in equipment. This equipment can be covered under the commercial property coverage but as with commercial coverage forms, the farm inland marine forms provide broader coverage and more flexible conditions.

Livestock farmers are heavily invested in their livestock. Some of the livestock can be covered under the commercial property coverage form, but the farm inland marine coverage has broader eligibility and more flexible conditions.

It is important to coordinate farm and ranch insurance coverage with the property coverage form in order to prevent any duplication of coverage.

ELIGIBILITY - FARM AND RANCH LIABILITY INSURANCE

Most farmers can insure the liability for their personal and farming activities in a single, inclusive form of liability insurance- a farm and ranch insurance liability policy.

The eligibility is broad enough that anyone with an insurable interest in a farm or ranch operation can be insured on the policy.

However, in order to better define what is considered a farm or ranch, the following are not considered eligible operations:

1. Farms whose principal purpose is to supply commodities for manufacturing or processing by the insured for sale to others. In this group will fall farms operated by creameries and dairies. Dairy farmers who do not manufacture or process are eligible for the policy, as are beef farmers who slaughter and dress their livestock, and vegetable farmers who bunch or crate vegetables and fruit.
2. Farms operating freezing or dehydrating plants, and poultry factories.
3. Farms with dwellings that exceed four-family unit size or that are used for business purposes.

Note: Liability coverage for farms that do not meet the above criteria can be written using commercial general liability coverage forms.

COVERAGE - FARM AND RANCH LIABILITY INSURANCE

The farm and ranch insurance liability coverage is practically identical to the personal liability policy. The chief difference between the two policies is that the farm policy includes coverage on farming operations as well as personal activities.

It is important to remember that this form is expanded personal liability coverage. When the risk becomes more commercial and less personal, the commercial general liability policy should be used for the farm operation and a dwelling or homeowner policy used for the personal exposure.

Specifically, this farm and ranch insurance liability coverage part will provide the following coverages:

• Coverage H - Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability
• Coverage I - Personal and Advertising Injury Liability
• Coverage J - Medical Payments

The exclusions that apply to most personal liability policies, and most commercial liability coverage forms apply, such as: contractual liability; pollution; release or discharge from aircraft; aircraft or motorized vehicles; watercraft; mobile equipment; business pursuits; custom farming; professional services; rented or borrowed premises; communicable disease; workers compensation and similar laws; employers liability; structures under construction; injury to insureds; damage to an insured's property, work or product; damage to impaired property; product recalls; physical or mental abuse; and controlled substances and other situations.

The farm and ranch insurance liability policy also does not cover property damage arising out of any substance released or discharged from any aircraft. It also excludes bodily injury and property damages when livestock are used or trained for racing.

In addition, business operations that are distinct from the farming operations are excluded in a way similar to the in-home business exclusion in a personal liability policy.

ADDITIONAL COVERAGES - FARM AND RANCH LIABILITY INSURANCE

This farm and ranch insurance coverage part also provides the following:

• All expenses connected to investigating and defending against a claim
• All interest that accrues on a judgment against an insured
• Bail bond expense - up to $250
• Prejudgment interest awarded against an insured
• Reasonable expenses incurred by an insured
• Similar to other liability policies in that all of the following are provided outside the limit of insurance:
• Supplementary Payments

POLICY CONSTRUCTION - FARM AND RANCH COMMINATION INSURANCE POLICY

Just as the Commercial Insurance Program has a package, there is a farm combination policy in the farm program.

If a farm operation is eligible for the farm combination policy, there is a significant pricing credit but there is no coverage difference.

The farm and ranch insurance combination policy does not contain any unique policy forms.

The policy is formed by simply combining the desired coverage forms. The policy is constructed as follows:

• Common policy declarations
• Common policy conditions
• Two or more coverage parts
• Coverage parts' declarations
• Coverage parts' conditions, if applicable

The stand-alone property, inland marine and liability policies use the common policy declarations and common policy conditions, but when all are combined on the combination policy, only one common declarations and one common policy condition is needed.

In addition, if there are cancellations or nonrenewal endorsements that apply to more than one coverage part, only one needs to be attached.

RISK AND COVERAGE PART ELIGIBILITY - FARM AND RANCH COMMINATION INSURANCE POLICY

There is no requirement that a certain form or forms be used in order to qualify for the farm combination policy. This is particularly important because the commercial general liability policy may be used instead of the farm liability policy at times and will not compromise the eligibility.

The comparison to the commercial package policy continues in that eligibility requires both property and liability coverage to be written on the policy. In particular, all of the farm buildings, dwellings, and farm personal property as well as all of the liability associated with the operation must be insured.

There are some exceptions, such as when all buildings are not under common ownership.

Certain operations are not eligible for the farm and ranch insurance combination policy. This does not mean they cannot use the farm forms; it simply means they cannot receive the combination credit. The situations that are barred from the combination program are:

• Any premises with structures housing activities that are not part of the farm operation
• Farm premises with dwellings designed to house more than four families
• Farms that are not occupied by the insured. The one exception is when the insured is actively involved in the operation such as having a contract for management or a tenant who is operating the farm under the insured's supervision.
• Farms that are not occupied or are vacant
• Farms that are really dehydrating or freezing operations, or poultry factories
• Farms that supply goods specifically for a manufacturing operation and that are owned or controlled by that manufacturing operation

There are many different types of farms and ranches, and each faces different operations, risks and exposures. Below of a brief description of some more common farming operations:

BEEF CATTLE FARMS

Beef farmers raise cattle for their meat. Calves are generally bred on-site using a bull or artificial insemination. Some farmers board feeder calves owned by others. The calves may graze in pastures when available but in drought or severe weather conditions may be kept in paddocks. They feed on grass, hay and other approved feed and supplements until they reach market weight.

At that time, the farmer either drives the animals to the processing plant or hires a carrier to transport them. Many operations raise their own grain to turn into feed for their livestock. Cattle farms are subject to regulation by the USDA, FDA, and EPA.

CASH GRAIN OPERATIONS

Cash grain farms grow a variety of grain crops for sale, including barley, corn, oats, rice, rye, soybeans, and wheat. While weather conditions are outside the control of farmers, grain farming also depends on natural substances such as compost and manure to be successful, plus several chemical applications such as fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides.

Bailers, combines, cultivators, disks, drills, hay rakes, mowers, plows, press wheels, seeders, tillers, tractors, and other types of farming machinery are required to support grain production on these farms.

DAIRY FARMS

Dairy farmers produce milk and milk products such as butter, buttermilk, cheese, and yogurt, from cows or goats. Milking is done two to three times each day, with some modern dairies performing milking on a 24-hour basis. After sanitizing the animal, a device is attached to the udder to pump milk into a holding tank.

There, the milk is refrigerated until processed by the dairy or transported to an aggregator for combining with other milk before being processed.

Since milk naturally contains bacteria that will cause it to spoil quickly even if refrigerated, it is put through a heating process called pasteurization to destroy the bacteria. If the dairy sells the milk directly to retailers, homogenization also occurs to keep the cream from rising to the top. Additional processes are used to manufacture other milk products.

Many operations raise their own grain to turn into feed for their livestock. To keep milk production high, dairy animals must be bred regularly, which also maintains a steady supply of replacements for milking. Dairies are subject to regulation by the USDA, FDA, and EPA.

FISH FARMS

Fish hatcheries and fish farms raise finfish such as bass, carp, catfish, salmon, or tilapia and shellfish such as oysters, prawns, scallops, and shrimp. Aquaculture facilities may keep fish in enclosed natural ponds, in-ground man-made pits, or above-ground pools.

Hatcheries often use selective breeding and artificially-induced spawning to produce larva that are kept in nurseries until they are large enough to be transferred to freshwater or saltwater rearing tanks

The fish are fed with plankton, commercial feed, or insects until they reach market weight. At that time, the farmer either drives the fish to the processing plant or hires a carrier to transport them. Some farms sell directly to restaurants or individuals. The 2015 FDA approval of a genetically modified salmon for human consumption has generated substantial controversy due to safety concerns.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE FARMS

Fruit and vegetable farms grow produce in bogs, in the ground, or on bushes, stalks, or vines. Products include beans, sweet corn, leafy vegetables, pumpkins and squashes, root vegetables, tomatoes, and fruits such as berries, table grapes, and melons. Some have retail operations where customers visit the premises, even picking their own produce from plants.

Some take their produce to local farmers' markets while others drive the produce to processing plants or hire a carrier to transport them. While weather conditions are outside the control of farmers, produce farming depends on natural substances such as compost and manure to be successful, plus several chemical applications such as fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides.

Combines, cultivators, disks, mowers, plows, seeders, tillers, tractors, and other types of farming machinery are required to support production on these farms.

HORSE FARMS

Horse farms (other than race horses) buy, breed, raise, sell, and train horses. They are kept in open pastures or paddocks during warm weather but in barn stalls at night and during inclement weather. The stalls must be cleaned regularly to remove manure and urine. They are fed grain and hay along with vitamins and supplements to keep them healthy and strong.

Horse farms may board horses belonging to others, rent horses for recreational purposes, and/or offer riding lessons. Some horse farm facilities are used by rehabilitative service organizations to provide riding lessons for physically, emotionally, and/or mentally challenged adults and children. Some grow grain and hay to feed the horses.

Racehorse farms buy, breed, raise, sell, and train horses specifically selected for their speed. Racehorses are expensive and can be temperamental. They require careful selection, excellent veterinary services, and exceptional trainers. They are kept in open pastures or paddocks during warm weather but in barn stalls at night and during inclement weather.

The stalls must be cleaned regularly to remove manure and urine. They are fed specially designed feeds along with vitamins and supplements to keep them healthy and strong. Staff is on duty 24 hours a day to respond to the horses' needs and to provide security. Racehorse farms often board and train animals belonging to others. Some grow grain and hay to feed the horses.

NUT FARMS

Nut farms grow their produce on trees or in the ground. Tree nuts include almonds, cashews, coconuts, chestnuts, filberts, hazelnuts, hickory nuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts, while peanuts are grown underground. Some tree nut farms have retail operations where customers visit the premises, including “You Pick It” operations. At harvest time, tree nuts must be blown or shaken off the trees, either by hand or using mechanical pickers.

Peanut plants are uprooted, and the peanuts allowed to dry before being threshed from the plants. The tree nuts or peanuts are dried, cracked open, and cleaned. They may be boiled, roasted, salted, or be processed into oils or spreads. Some are used for making paint, polishes, or silage.

Nut farms depend on natural substances such as compost and manure to be successful, plus a number of chemical applications such as fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides.

Pickers, tillers, tractors, and other types of farming machinery are required to support production. At harvest time, the farmer either drives the produce to processing plants or hires a carrier to transport them. Nut farms are regulated by the FDA.

ORCHARDS AND GROVES

Orchards grow fruit and nuts on trees or shrubs, including apples, berries, cherries, pears, peaches, peanuts, pecans, and walnuts. Orchards for citrus fruits such as grapefruit, lemons, limes, and oranges are often called groves.

Some orchards have retail operations where customers visit the premises, including"You Pick It" operations. Some process their goods into cider, jellies, or jams to sell to customers.

Others take their products to local farmers' markets. At harvest time, the farmer either drives the produce to processing plants or hires a carrier to transport them. Orchards and groves depend on natural substances such as compost and manure to be successful, plus several chemical applications such as fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides.

Mowers, pickers, tillers, tractors, and other types of farming machinery are required to support production.

POULTRY FARMS

Poultry farmers raise chickens and turkeys for eggs and meat. Some raise more exotic fowl such as ducks, geese, guinea, ostrich, peacocks, quail or squab. Birds can be raised in confinement or free-range, although free-range fowl are kept indoors during inclement weather and at night due to predators. Beaks may be trimmed to prevent the birds from aggression or feathering pecking and eating.

Feed is provided along with vaccinations to keep the stock healthy until they reach market weight. The farmer either drives the birds or eggs to the processing plant or hires a carrier to transport them. Many operations raise their own grain to turn into feed.

Poultry farms are subject to regulation by the USDA, FDA, and EPA. While the use of antibiotics for poultry has been approved by the FDA since 1951, the practice has generated increased controversy due to concerns about human antibiotic resistance.

SHEEP AND GOAT FARMS

Sheep and goat farmers raise animals to produce milk, meat, and/or wool. Lanolin may be used in manufacturing cosmetics, while skin may be used to make leather or parchment. The animals graze in pastures and are fed supplemental silage. Milk can be extracted by hand or using automated milking machines.

The milk can be sent to an aggregator for combining with other milk before processed and packaged, or it can be processed, packaged, and marketed directly to customers.

To keep milk production high, animals must be bred regularly, which also maintains a steady supply of replacements for milking. Animals grown for their meat are kept until they reach market weight. At that time, the farmer either drives the animals to the processing plant or hires a carrier to transport them.

Many operations raise their own grain to turn into feed for their livestock. Sheep are sheared annually, and the fleeces sold as wool. Angora goats are sheered for their mohair fleece while other goats provide cashmere and other fine fiber. Sheep and goat farms are subject to regulation by the USDA, FDA, and EPA.

SWINE FARMS

Swine farmers raise pigs primarily for meat and lard, although some also supply skin for making leather goods. Pigs are generally bred on-site using boars or artificial insemination. Sows produce an average litter of twelve piglets which can be raised in confinement or free-range with indoor housing available during inclement weather and at night due to predators.

While pigs love to forage, pastureland does not provide adequate quantities of food, so they are fed grains, by-products, and other nutrients until they reach market weight. At that time, the farmer either drives the animals to the processing plant or hires a carrier to transport them. Many operations raise their own grain to turn into feed for their animals. Swine farms are subject to regulation by the USDA, FDA, and EPA.

TOBACCO FARMS

Tobacco farms produce leaves that can be made into cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and snuff. At harvest time, the tobacco leaves are removed from the stems of the plants, cleaned, and cured in large, well-ventilated barns. Curing can be solely by air or by using controlled fires placed below the leaves. Flavoring agents may be added during the curing process. Some farmers then arrange transport of the cured leaves to a nearby tobacco sales auction warehouse.

Others are under contract with a tobacco manufacturer and transport of the leaves is based on the terms of the contract. Tobacco farms depend on several chemical applications such as fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides. Pickers, tillers, tractors, and other types of farming machinery are required to support production.

BEE KEEPERS

Beekeepers or apiarists collect bees' honey and other products such as pollen, beeswax, and royal jelly, place hives to pollinate crops, and/or to produce bees for sale to other beekeepers.

Bees live in hives that have traditionally been constructed of wood but are now available in polystyrene. Hives have removable covers and frames in which bees build honeycomb, allowing the beekeeper to inspect the hive for signs of disease (such as Colony Collapse Disorder) or parasites, an aging queen which means imminent swarming, or other conditions that require intervention. The removable frames permit easy harvesting of honey and other products.

Frames may be hung as an aid in pollination. The beekeeper may sell all its honey to manufacturers or may process all or some for retail sale.

ALLIGATOR FARMS

Alligator farms raise alligators for their meat and leather. Eggs or juvenile animals can be captured in the wild or obtained by breeding stock. Because alligator farming requires high heat and humidity plus an ongoing source of water, they are concentrated in southern states. Alligators may be kept in enclosed marshes or swamps, concrete pits, or environmentally-controlled hothouses complete with piped-in music.

Alligators are prone to many diseases, including caiman pox, chlamydia, crocodile pox, mycobacteria, salmonella, and West Nile Virus transmitted by mosquitoes, contact with other animals, or from eating contaminated meat. Alligators reach marketable size of three feet in about a year. At that time, the farmer either drives them to the processing plant or hires a carrier to transport them.

Many alligator farms supplement their income with tourism. As alligators are a protected species, these farms are regulated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Farms and ranches face a variety of potential legal issues, which can result in lawsuits. Here are several common reasons why they might be sued, and how insurance can help protect them:

1. Personal Injury: If a visitor, worker, or trespasser is injured on the farm or ranch, they could sue for damages. These injuries could be due to faulty equipment, animal attacks, or unsafe conditions. In this case, General Liability Insurance can provide coverage. This insurance helps pay for legal defense costs, settlements, and judgments related to these kinds of lawsuits.

2. Property Damage: Farms and ranches could also be sued if their operations cause damage to someone else's property. For example, if livestock escape and cause damage to a neighbor's property, the farm or ranch could be held liable. Again, General Liability Insurance would provide coverage, helping pay for legal expenses and any necessary damages.

3. Product Liability: If a farm's or ranch's products cause harm, they could be sued. For instance, if their food products cause food poisoning, they could be held accountable. Product Liability Insurance would help cover the costs of legal defense, settlements, or judgments in these cases.

4. Environmental Damage: Agricultural operations can sometimes cause environmental harm, such as water contamination due to pesticide runoff. If sued for this kind of damage, Environmental Liability Insurance would help cover the costs associated with legal proceedings and any resulting judgments or settlements.

5. Workers' Compensation Claims: If a farm or ranch worker is injured on the job, they could file a workers' compensation claim. If the farm or ranch is found to be at fault, they could be sued for additional damages. Workers' Compensation Insurance is designed to cover these costs, including medical expenses, lost wages, and any associated legal costs.

6. Auto Accidents: Farms and ranches often use vehicles and heavy machinery. If an accident occurs involving one of these vehicles, they could be held liable. Commercial Auto Insurance would help cover the costs of legal proceedings, as well as any damages awarded.

Overall, having a comprehensive insurance plan is crucial for farms and ranches to protect themselves from potential lawsuits. It's important to work with an experienced insurance agent to ensure that all possible risks are covered.