Farm and Ranch Insurance

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Farm and Ranch Insurance

Farms and ranches are a rich and essential part of life in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Whether you are an enthusiastic hobby farmer or a dedicated full-scale agribusiness, there's no doubt you have devoted both muscle and money to your operation. That's why it's so important to protect your investment with the proper farm and ranch insurance coverage.

Why You Need Insurance for a Farm and Ranch

Farm and ranch insurance protects you from financial loss both personally and commercially. Farms and ranches are the backbones of America, but they can be dangerous places. About one-third of the farm population in the U.S. is injured every year in farm accidents, according to the National Ag Safety Database (NASD). 

The most common farming accidents run the gamut from overturned tractors to falls and toxic chemical exposures to pesticides. NASD points out that it's not just hospitalizations and medical treatments that incur great costs to injured farmers. 

The economic loss of wages and production have to be considered as well. The right farm and ranch insurance policy means you can be confident you've protected yourself, your family, and your business should the unexpected happen.

Farm and Ranch Insurance Covers Many Issues

Your specific farm and ranch insurance needs will vary depending on the type of farming or ranching that you do. For example, the insurance needs for orchard farmers differ from the insurance needs for cattle farmers. And cattle farmers' needs may differ from those running a sheep operation. 

At Keller-Brown, you can rest assured that our insurance agents will work with you to make sure you get a farm and ranch insurance policy with coverage tailored to your specific requirements.

With so many farm and ranch insurance options available, you might wonder which is the best insurance for farmers. 

Here are four general areas of protection to consider when choosing insurance for your farm:

• Your home and its contents, as well as additional buildings used for personal use such as a greenhouse for vegetables that are consumed by the family or a detached garage.

• Farm structures, also called outbuildings, including barns, sheds, and stables.

• Machinery and equipment, for instance, tractors, cultivators, sprayers, and combines.

• Livestock - chickens, turkeys, cattle and calves, hogs, and sheep, for example.

Farm liability insurance is another type of insurance for a farm designed to protect you and your assets. Farm liability insurance covers you should an individual be injured or their personal property damaged because of your farm operations. 

Types of farm liability insurance coverage include: 

• Bodily injury liability for farm accidents or operations

• Accidental death

• Negligent acts of your children

• Acts of your livestock 

• Limited pollution for overspray

Coverage may include medical payments (even if you are not legally responsible) and legal defense costs.

You can also include liability coverage for participating in farmers' markets, fall fairs, and offering "agritainment" at your ranch in the form of a farm stay, petting zoo, sleigh rides, and more. Agritainment, also known as agritourism, is growing in popularity with both farm owners and the public. 

According to MarylandPlanning.org, "Agriculture education and tourism activities create new opportunities to preserve farming, farmland and rural open spaces as well as enhance the economic viability of agriculture."

You may be thinking that you don't need farm and ranch insurance because you farm on a smaller level - selling organic kale at one of our York County farmers' markets or raising bees to sell honey and beeswax in Maryland. Even if this type of farming is not your primary income, it is considered a hobby farm, and it too requires its own farm insurance policy, separate from your homeowner's policy. 

Your farming operation may qualify for insurance protection as a hobby farm even if you are farming on limited acreage and have few animals. Your Keller-Brown insurance agents can go over additional eligibility guidelines for hobby farms with you.  

The types of farm and ranch insurance coverage available to you don't stop there. If you are leasing farm land, farm land insurance can protect you and your equipment — even if your equipment is stolen. 

The choices for farm and ranch insurance coverage can seem overwhelming, but an insurance agent at Keller-Brown will work with you to create a tailored policy that protects you and your business. To receive a proposal suited to your individual needs, complete our Farm Quote Request form or use the contact link below. 

And of course, you can always call or stop by our York County, PA, office to learn more. Farm and ranch insurance plans can include protection for your personal and business assets and legal liability insurance for both personal and farming pursuits, as well as workers compensation and commercial and personal auto as other pieces to your farm insurance plan. 

Do you have questions about Farm and Ranch Insurance?

Contact an insurance agent at Keller-Brown Insurance Services today to answer any questions about Farm and Ranch Insurance or for a free review and insurance quote for Farm and Ranch Insurance. And don't forget, as an independent insurance agency, we represent several top rated insurance companies. We have the flexibility to help you find coverage at competitive premiums for business, home, auto, and more.