1. Do local zoning laws restrict weddings and events on farm properties?
2. Can you get approval for barn weddings in your zoning district?
3. What is the current state of the barn and surrounding areas?
4. How do building codes and fire codes change when the barn is being used for events?
5. How do the water and sewage laws apply to a barn that is used for events?
6. What are the local nuisance laws and noise ordinances?
7. Are you planning to serve food and alcohol?
8. Do you have the right liability coverage for barn weddings?
9. What other insurance coverage do you need?
10. What insurance will you require the event organizers to have?
11. How will taxes be handled on income generated from weddings and events?

1. Do Local Zoning Laws Restrict Weddings and Events on Farm Properties?

One of the biggest things to consider about barn weddings, and the insurance and legal considerations that come along with them, is whether local zoning laws will even allow you to have them. It’s essential to check your zoning provisions and make sure you can have those types of events on your farm property if you want to, before you get too far into the process.

In some areas, local zoning laws do not allow farm properties to be used for events, like weddings. It depends on what falls under “permitted use” or “conditional use”, and whether weddings or events would be considered “commercial use.” In agricultural and residential zoning districts, agriculture is usually allowed under “permitted use” or “conditional use.” If barn weddings and events do not fall under the zoning code’s definition of agriculture, it may be considered “commercial use” and would not be permitted under those zoning laws.

This will also affect insurance. If you are trying to obtain insurance coverage for barn weddings or events, you will not be able to find an insurer willing to offer coverage for activities that are not permitted under your local zoning laws.

2. Can You Get Approval For Barn Weddings in Your Zoning District?

If it turns out that weddings and other events on farm property are not permitted under your current zoning laws, you may still have some options. Depending on your local zoning laws, the details, and the definitions, you may be able to get approval for barn weddings and events on your farm property by requesting rezoning to allow for it or by qualifying for conditional-use permits. Once you are able to confirm that you are legally able to have barn weddings on your farm property, you’ll be able to continue the process and explore insurance carriers and coverage options as well.

3. What is the Current State of the Barn and Surrounding Areas?

Another thing farmers need to consider with barn weddings and insurance is the current state of the barn you want to use and the surrounding areas on your property. This will affect both your ability to host events safely, as well as your options for insuring it.

If there are structural issues, attractive nuisances, or dangerous areas the public could wander into around the barn, these are big liabilities that will all need to be addressed before you are able to get the insurance coverage you need and host events. Even if the building and surrounding areas are sound and clear, there will probably still be aesthetic improvements, accessibility improvements, and upgrades you will want to make to the barn and the area to turn it into the event space you want.

You will want to talk about these with your insurance agent. Depending on what those improvements are and how they affect the value of the building and property, you may need to adjust the coverage and/or coverage limits on that structure to account for the additional liability, increased replacement cost, and more.

4. How Do Building Codes and Fire Codes Change When the Barn is Being Used For Events?

A structure that hosts or houses people has different requirements than a structure that does not. If you are planning to use a building on your property for events, that building becomes a structure that hosts or houses people. This often means that a building that was previously exempt from some building and fire codes or had only minimal requirements now has stricter requirements and codes applied, and must be in compliance.

Depending on local building codes and laws, you may need to acquire a building permit. You may also need to make some changes to your barn to bring it into compliance with the building and fire regulations that now apply to it when it is used as an event space. If the structure is not up to code for the new use, that is a legal issue. It’s also an insurance issue. Any structure you are trying to insure must be up to code and in compliance with any requirements for its proposed use.

5. How Do the Water and Sewage Laws Apply to a Barn That is Used For Events?

Similar to fire codes and building codes, water and sewage laws apply differently to a barn that is used to store equipment or crops and a barn that has people in it regularly. Once you plan to use a barn or another structure on your property for weddings and events where people will regularly be on the premises, water and sewage laws will apply differently.

You may need to improve existing septic systems and drinking water supply systems, or install systems if there aren’t any, to meet new requirements for water and sewage. In addition to legal compliance, these requirements and systems also have insurance considerations.

There will be replacement costs to take into account when determining what insurance you have and what the sufficient limit on the policy should be. On top of that, water and sewer backup are not usually covered on standard farm personal property insurance. It is usually coverage added to a policy via a specific endorsement.

6. What Are the Local Nuisance Laws and Noise Ordinances?

There are right-to-farm laws that provide farmers with some protection against nuisance complaints related to agricultural activities. However, the right-to-farm laws likely do not apply to barn weddings and other events. These aren’t usually considered typical farm activities that would fall under those laws.

In addition to being a good neighbor and reducing conflict in the community, within reason, farmers will also need to consider how nuisance laws and noise ordinances would apply to barn weddings and other events on the farm property. These events, especially barn weddings and receptions, will create traffic and noise in general, potentially late into the night. You will need to know what your local noise ordinances and nuisance laws are and how they apply to any events you will be hosting on your property.

Otherwise, you could end up facing nuisance claims and other issues. And, if you are violating local ordinances and laws, you risk having your insurer deny your claim. When this occurs, it isn’t a case of insurance companies avoiding paying claims unfairly; you have to hold up your end of the deal and be a lawful and responsible insured. You may have insurance coverage, but that coverage has limits and a specific agreement; it may not apply in situations where you could be found negligent or if you are operating outside of what your policy covers or requires.

7. Are You Planning to Serve Food and Alcohol?

Events, especially weddings and receptions, often have food and beverages, including alcohol. Not only does this make an event better and more enjoyable for the people attending, but it can also increase costs. Additionally, food and beverage, especially alcohol, will require you to consider food safety, licensing, and liquor laws.

There are higher licensing requirements if you are providing food and alcohol than if you are using caterers or having attendees provide their own food and drinks. Although caterers and attendees supplying their own food and beverages can reduce your licensing requirements, it does not eliminate them – you will still have additional licensing needs to consider.

In addition to the legal requirements for preparing and providing food and liquor, you will also have to consider the additional insurance coverage you may need. Liquor liability insurance, event liability insurance, product liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and more are all considerations for insurance and coverage that you may need with barn weddings and events. A conversation with your insurance agent is a good starting point. They will be able to help you navigate barn weddings and insurance.

8. Do You Have the Right Liability Coverage For Barn Weddings?

Any activity that invites the public onto your property carries additional liability risks. This is one of the most common reasons why ag operations need additional liability coverage. If your farm property isn’t already open to the public, you will need to update your liability coverage, including extending your premises liability coverage, and likely increase your policy limits.

If you already have an element of agritourism, barn weddings and events will have other liability risks for you to consider, but depending on your policy, you may have the liability coverage you need. However, if you don’t already have a policy covering commercial activities on your farm, then you will likely need to explore some type of specialized commercial general liability insurance designed for special events.

Discussing what you would like to add and do with your insurance agent and reviewing your farm insurance policy with them will ensure you have the coverage you need and you don’t have any expensive coverage gaps. Having them tour your property with you to look over the structure and surrounding areas and talk through your plans is also helpful.

9. What Other Insurance Coverage Do You Need?

You may have a fantastic general liability policy for your farm, but general liability often does not cover event activities, like weddings and other events. Barn weddings can be a great event for your farm, but they also require the right insurance coverage and enough of it before you start hosting events on your property. This is one of the essential things to do before welcoming visitors to your farm, whether for a barn wedding or something else.

Your insurance agent will be an invaluable resource as you explore converting a structure on your property into an event space. They will be able to take your current property and insurance policy into account and determine what needs to be updated or added to ensure you are properly and sufficiently insured for your new venture. This type of personalized advice and a consultative approach are some of the biggest benefits of working with an independent insurance agent, especially someone who has ag experience.

10. What Insurance Will You Require the Event Organizers to Have?

Another thing farmers need to consider with barn weddings and insurance is the coverage that the people or business organizing the event need to have in order to use the barn event space. Your insurance agent will be a good resource for advice on what insurance you should consider requiring before allowing someone to host an event in your space.

You will have your own insurance in place for your structure and property, but there may be other considerations and responsibilities that would fall on event organizers to cover. Depending on your specific situation and risks, you may want to require that organizers have certain types of insurance before using your space. Making things like this part of the contract is one way farmers can avoid frivolous liability claims as they venture into providing event space.

11. How Will Taxes Be Handled on Income Generated From Weddings and Events?

Outside of insurance, farmers should also have a good idea of how taxes on income generated from barn weddings and events will be handled. Where income from these events is reported will be different from income from selling traditional ag products. That income may also be taxed differently.

Depending on local laws and your specific events, you may also need to collect, pay, and report on sales tax. These are important things to think about for farmers who are considering using barns or other structures on their property for weddings or events.

Insure Your Ag Operation Properly With Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance

These are just a few things to consider with barn weddings and insurance, and can help you determine if agritainment is right for your farm, even if it’s just an event space in a barn. Every ag operation is different and will have its own unique aspects and challenges.

Having a conversation with an independent insurance agent, especially one with ag experience, can ensure you have the insurance coverage you need for every aspect of your ag operation. If you need to review your current farm insurance policy or need to add or update coverage, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880.

The post What Farmers Need to Consider With Barn Weddings and Insurance appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

What Does Standard Farm Personal Property Insurance Cover?

Standard farm personal property insurance is designed to provide protection for movable farm assets against covered perils. One of the things to know about farm insurance is that it can cover these assets on and off the farm premises. Farm personal property is usually covered on a scheduled or unscheduled basis.

Key Categories of Farm Personal Property Coverage

Standard farm personal property insurance often provides coverage for these key areas:

• Farm Machinery & Equipment, which often includes:
  • Tractors
  • Combines
  • Tools
  • Irrigation systems
  • Computers
  • Other office equipment
• Livestock, which usually provides protection specifically against perils like:
  • Electrocution
  • Lightning
  • Fire
  • Theft
  • Vandalism
• Farm Supplies & Products, which usually includes:
  • Harvested crops
  • Grain
  • Silage
  • Seed
  • Fertilizer
  • Hay
  • Seed

Scheduled and Unscheduled Personal Property

Farm personal property coverage is usually on a scheduled or an unscheduled basis.

Scheduled Farm Personal Property

Scheduled personal property is used to tailor coverage for specific needs or items that do not qualify for unscheduled farm personal property. These items are listed individually and separately on your policy. This allows you to tailor coverage to these items and assign a specific amount of insurance to each to ensure you have adequate coverage and limits for them on your policy.

Unscheduled Farm Personal Property

Unscheduled personal property provides general blanket coverage for items up to your selected blanket coverage limit. In the case of farm personal property, this often includes things like smaller machinery or tools. It is also often referred to as “blanket coverage.”

There are some types of coverage that are not eligible for unscheduled coverage, such as Irrigation Equipment, ATVs/UTVs, etc. Some carriers may not allow certain items, like Combines, Forage Harvesters, Cotton Pickers, etc., to be insured under unscheduled farm personal property.

Covered Perils on a Standard Farm Personal Property Policy

Covered perils on a standard farm personal property policy usually include:

• Fire
• Smoke
• Explosion
• Lightning
• Hail
• Windstorm
• Sinkhole collapse
• Volcanic action
• Vehicles
• Aircraft
• Collision
• Vandalism
• Theft
• Riot or civil unrest

What Does Standard Farm Personal Property Insurance Not Cover?

Although farm personal property insurance is often bundled with other coverages, like farm liability, farm structures, and homeowners insurance, it is a distinct coverage. As with all insurance, available coverage is about risk management.

Emerging risks and insurance trends can affect what is and is not covered on standard policies. This is why making sure you talk to your insurance agent about the coverage you have and obtaining any endorsements you need is so important. Provided you have the right endorsements on your policy, you can turn coverage exclusions into covered losses.

Depending on the nature of the risk and the coverage needed, there could be plenty of coverage options, limited coverage options available, or options that are cost-prohibitive. Your insurance agent will be able to walk you through the current state of insurance and help you evaluate the available options for the coverage you need.

Common Exclusions on a Standard Farm Personal Property Policy

Specific coverage exclusions will vary by location, carrier, market, etc., but they are explicitly stated on insurance policies in most cases. Usage can also turn a covered peril into an exclusion in some cases. This is a consideration whenever you are exploring new business ventures that use covered property, like in the case of insurance and barn weddings.

This list is not exhaustive because coverage exclusions can vary, and there are endorsements available to add coverage for some of them. In general, a standard farm personal property insurance policy usually does NOT cover the following perils:

• Growing crops
• Household goods
• Specialized equipment
• Routine wear and tear
• Sewer backups
• Flooding
• Earthquakes
• Pollution
• Disease/sickness
• Pest infestation
• Non-owned livestock in your care
• Inventory used for retail sales
• Negligence
• Intentional acts
• Government-ordered seizure/destruction

Common Endorsements For Farm Personal Property Insurance

Although it is not an exhaustive list, and the endorsements you need will depend on your situation, these are some endorsements and other policies that are often added to farm personal property insurance to provide additional coverage:

• Extra Expense and Loss of Business Income
• Care, Custody, and Control Insurance
• Replacement Cost For Machinery and Equipment
• Replacement Cost of Irrigation Systems
• Peak Season Inventory Endorsement
• Coverage For GPS Guidance Systems
• Suffocation of Livestock – Property-Owned and Non-Owned
• Farm Machinery and Equipment – Open Perils
• Equipment Breakdown
• Backup of Sewers and Drains
• Inland Marine (Property in Transit)
• Winter Perils
• Added Animal Perils
• Fraud Expense Insurance
• Personal Injury Liability

Get the Insurance You Need With Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance

This is an overview of what standard farm personal property insurance covers and doesn’t cover. Similar to what homeowners insurance does and doesn’t cover, you can extend your coverage beyond a standard farm personal property policy with endorsements and additional policies, but you will need to be proactive and intentional about adding them in order to get the full coverage you need for anything that is not included on a standard policy.

Every situation is unique, and the exact coverage you need will vary. Your insurance agent will be able to identify the endorsements you need for your situation and ensure you have the coverage options you need before you need them. For help with your farm insurance policy, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880.

The post What Does Standard Farm Personal Property Insurance Cover and Not Cover? appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

1. Mistake: Undervaluing livestock and assets.
2. Mistake: Ignoring livestock mortality insurance.
3. Mistake: Not obtaining some sort of revenue protection.
4. Mistake: Failing to add business interruption insurance.
5. Mistake: Overlooking needs for specialized coverage.
6. Mistake: Not having replacement cost coverage on buildings and equipment.
7. Mistake: Underestimating liability limits for current operations.
8. Mistake: Not updating coverage to include new ventures.
9. Mistake: Not keeping or providing detailed records.
10. Mistake: Working with someone who does not have ag insurance experience.

1. Mistake: Undervaluing Livestock and Assets

One of the biggest mistakes to avoid when buying dairy farm insurance is undervaluing livestock and assets. Your cattle are essential to your dairy operation. Should anything happen to them, your milk production and operation can suffer. Insurance is one of the ways to protect your livestock.

But if you are underinsuring your cattle or equipment, you could end up with significant coverage gaps. You also don’t want to assume a flat rate for all of your animals. There may be differences in the coverage you need based on factors like age, breed, and more. For example, high-value breeding stock may require a specific type of insurance or more coverage to eliminate coverage gaps.

Market conditions also have an effect on the prices and value of cattle, which can also affect valuation for insurance. Given the current market conditions, cattle values, including dairy cattle, are very high. If your insurance policy is not designed to weather market conditions or hasn’t been updated in a while, you could be underinsuring your cattle in the current market.

2. Mistake: Ignoring Livestock Mortality Insurance in Situations Where it Would Make Sense

In addition to general insurance for your dairy cattle, you also want to look into the options available to you for Livestock Mortality Insurance should you have instances where this coverage would make sense.

Livestock Mortality coverage is like “life insurance” for your cattle. Mortality policies help provide compensation for the loss of an animal and can help with replacement cost, per the terms of the policy, and provided it is a covered loss.

There are various coverage options available. Cattle mortality policies can be applied to entire herds, and individual policies are available for high-value cattle. There is also a USDA FSA Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), which can be an option for eligible contract growers and livestock owners.

Livestock Mortality may not be cost-effective or make sense for farmers, but it may make sense in certain situations. Livestock Mortality policies tend to be helpful and useful for insuring valuable breeding animals or show animals. For dairy farmers, it’s worth having a conversation with your insurance agent about Livestock Mortality if you have:

• Valuable heifers or cows for embryo flushing/transfer
• Valuable breeding bulls
• Valuable show animals

What makes the most sense for your dairy farm and herds will depend on your specific operation and needs. An insurance agent with ag experience will be able to help you determine the right options for your operation and help you obtain the coverage you need for your cattle.

3. Mistake: Not Obtaining Some Sort of Revenue Protection

On top of protection for your livestock, equipment, buildings, and other assets, it’s important to consider coverage that can help provide stability during market swings, specifically with feed costs and milk prices.

When it comes to “milk insurance,” dairy producers have a few options available for coverage. The FSA Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC) replaced the Margin Protection Program (MPP) several years ago and is the most commonly used.

Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) and Livestock Gross-Margin Dairy (LGM-Dairy) are other options, but tend to be far less common now than DMC. Depending on your operation and your needs, these types of coverage can be tools to help you manage risks and provide more predictable income for your dairy operation.

4. Mistake: Failing to Add Business Interruption Insurance

Having some sort of revenue protection can reduce risks related to volatile market conditions and market swings, but what about when something happens to disrupt production on your dairy farm? Severe weather, equipment failure, and more can disrupt or shut down your operations.

Continuous operation and production are critical for dairy operations. Any downtime to production can have serious negative consequences. Business Interruption Insurance, like Loss of Business Income and Extra Expense Coverage, can help cover ongoing costs during downtime caused by covered perils.

5. Mistake: Overlooking Needs for Specialized Coverage

Standard farm insurance policies can cover a lot, but there can be coverage gaps when insuring specialized ag operations. Depending on your operation and needs, standard policies may not be enough to cover specific risks on their own.

There may be situations or assets that require endorsements or specialized coverage to obtain sufficient coverage on your policy. Working with an experienced ag insurance agent can ensure you are adequately insured for the specific risks of your dairy farm.

6. Mistake: Not Having Replacement Cost Coverage on Buildings and Equipment

Another one of the mistakes to avoid when buying dairy farm insurance is not having Replacement Cost Coverage on buildings and equipment. You may be tempted to go for Actual Cash Value (ACV), especially if it results in a lower premium. However, you have to evaluate whether you’re getting actual savings or less insurance in that situation, and whether you’re able to self-insure and handle the difference should you need to replace lost equipment or rebuild structures.

Actual Cash Value (ACV) depreciates as your equipment and structures age. So, if you incur a loss under a covered peril, ACV provides compensation for the loss at its market value at the time of loss. This can leave you undercompensated when you need to replace equipment or rebuild structures.

Instead, insure your valuable buildings and equipment with Replacement Cost Coverage. This insures your buildings to value. Provided the building limits on the policy meet requirements, Replacement Cost Coverage provides compensation that allows you to rebuild your lost structures as new.

7. Mistake: Underestimating Liability Limits For Current Operations

Another mistake to avoid when insuring your dairy farm is underestimating liability for your current operations. There are inherent risks in everything. Between the property, animals, equipment, and more, ag operations can carry a lot more.

This creates several liability exposures for ag operators, which only increase if you invite the public onto your property. These are often reasons why you need additional liability coverage for your ag operation. Underestimating the liability limits for your current operations can leave you with significant coverage gaps on your insurance policies.

It’s not enough to just have coverage for your dairy operation. You need to have the right coverage and enough of it to adequately protect your ag operation. An insurance agent with ag experience will be invaluable in making sure you have the coverage you need with the right limits to protect your dairy operation.

8. Mistake: Not Updating Coverage to Include New Ventures

It can be easy to try out new business ventures on your farm and not think about how that affects your insurance coverage. However, in addition to increased liability risks, you may also be creating coverage gaps that leave you exposed and uninsured should a loss occur related to operations that aren’t included on your current farm insurance policy.

Just as you may need to update your insurance policy to cover newly acquired assets, whether that be new structures, animals, equipment, etc., you also may need to update your policy to cover any new business ventures or operations on your farm. Even something as seemingly simple as a roadside stand selling products involves you in direct farm marketing and can expose you to new risks. If you are not covered for those or covered with sufficient limits under your current policy, you and your dairy operation are at risk should an incident occur.

Any time you add new assets or ventures to your ag operation, it’s important to have a conversation with your insurance agent to make sure you have the right coverage. This is a key way to protect your operation. Additionally, if your new ventures involve the public for any aspect of agri-tourism, the right insurance is a way to lower your risk and protect your agritainment investment.

9. Mistake: Not Keeping or Providing Detailed Records

Insurance is all about managing risk. Having strong containment practices and safety practices, along with detailed safety records, herd management records, and more, can provide evidence of risk control on your dairy operation. Not only can this improve your operation and help you in the event of a claim, but it also provides benefits when you are exploring options and purchasing dairy farm insurance.

Good containment practices and documented safety protocols around your farm reduce your liability exposures and provide proof of it for insurers. Detailed records can give your insurance agent more details to better tailor coverage to your specific needs and can also result in lower premiums because you have proof of lower risk. Not having these records or missing documentation paired with evidence of lacking standards can result in fewer insurers willing to offer coverage or higher premiums.

10. Mistake: Working With Someone Who Does Not Have Ag Insurance Experience

It’s easy to assume that insurance is insurance. But this can result in costly coverage gaps, overinflated premiums, and more. Ag operations are unique and have specific needs. A general insurance agent may be able to help you get insurance coverage, but an insurance agent with ag experience ensures nothing is missed or overlooked with your operation.

They understand what goes into running and insuring an ag operation, as well as the nuances on both the ag operator side and the insurance side that need to be considered. A farm insurance specialist knows how to correctly schedule the dairy farm equipment, navigate the nuances of livestock valuation, identify and adequately cover ag-specific risks, and more. They’ll also know the right questions to ask and can help guide you through a farm and ranch insurance review to make sure you have the information you need and get the coverage your operation needs.

Get the Right Insurance For Your Dairy Farm

These are just a few mistakes to avoid when buying dairy farm insurance. Because every ag operation will have unique needs, a conversation with an independent insurance agent who has ag experience will help you make sure you get the coverage you need for your dairy farm. If you’re exploring new coverage for your dairy farm or need to review your farm insurance policy, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 1-800-537-6880 or 717-665-2283.

The post 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Dairy Farm Insurance appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

1. Clean up your property.
2. Secure machinery and remove potential hazards.
3. Look over public areas.
4. Take care of necessary repairs.
5. Identify and clearly designate safe parking areas.
6. Determine visiting schedule and hours.
7. Create clear visitor guidelines.
8. Update and add signage.
9. Update security protocols, emergency plans, and first-aid kits.
10. Review disease prevention and biosecurity protocols.
11. Go over safety policies with all employees.
12. Check your permits.
13. Review current insurance coverage.
14. Plan regular risk assessments.

1. Clean Up Your Property

Maintaining your property, keeping it cleaned up, and keeping it free of hazards are important all the time, but are particularly important before inviting visitors onto the grounds. A lack of maintenance, having a lot of clutter, having a buildup of debris, and more can damage your property, increase the risk of an incident or injury occurring, and increase the chance you could be found liable should an incident or injury occur on your property.

By taking the time to clean up, you can create a safer environment for visitors and reduce your liability risk as an operator. Additionally, not only does this help protect your ag operation and investment, but it also helps make you a more attractive insured and is a simple way for farmers to avoid frivolous liability claims. If you are actively maintaining your property and keeping things cleaned up, the risk of being held liable due to negligence is greatly reduced.

2. Secure Machinery and Remove Potential Hazards

Another one of the important things to do before welcoming visitors to your farm is to secure machinery, remove potential hazards, and limit or restrict access to potential hazards that you need for your ag operation, and that should not be accessible to the public.

Doing so helps keep visitors out of potentially dangerous areas and away from potentially hazardous materials. Not only does this reduce risk and provide a safer environment for visitors, but it also helps reduce the chances of accidental or intentional damage to your essential machinery and materials.

Keeping public access restricted only to the areas you want to designate for public access is one of the ways to lower your risk and protect your agritainment investment. On top of that, you may be eligible for discounts on insurance premiums or qualify for extra coverage because you have made efforts to lower your risk as an insured.

3. Look Over Public Areas

After walking your property overall to monitor and take stock of its current state, make another pass that focuses on the public areas. Look over the public areas of your ag operation and explore them as a visitor. Look for problem areas and things that need to be fixed.

• Are there stairs leading up to buildings with public access that need to be replaced?
• Are there loose railings that need to be tightened up or replaced?
• Are any fences damaged, broken, or missing?
• Are all of your pathways clear and walkways in good shape?
• Are the walkways wide enough for visitors?
• Are there any areas that need to be leveled for visitors to traverse safely?
• Are all of your signs in good condition?
• Is anything else in need of repair or replacement?
• Do you see any safety issues that increase the risk of injury or incident for visitors?
• Do you have benches and shaded areas for rest areas?
• Is anything missing that would make a visitor’s experience more enjoyable and safer?

Inviting the public onto your property is one of the big reasons why you need additional liability coverage for your ag operation. Walking through the public areas of your ag operation from the perspective of both a visitor and an operator can help you identify potential risks and allow you to avoid or reduce them before visitors come onto your property.

4. Take Care of Necessary Repairs

Walking through your property has the added benefit of allowing you to put together a list of repairs you need to make and prioritize them accordingly. One of the things to do before welcoming visitors to your farm is to take care of those necessary repairs.

In addition to keeping your ag operation running smoothly and preventing downtime or damage caused by errors, making necessary repairs also reduces risks for you, employees, visitors, and anyone else on your property.

5. Identify and Clearly Designate Safe Parking Areas

One of the many considerations for whether agritainment is right for your farm can include parking. In addition to having the resources to add agritainment to your operations and handle the additional risks associated with it, you also need to be able to provide a good visitor experience in order to sustain your agritourism activities.

Your farm needs to be able to handle having visitors, and part of a good experience is making sure visitors can access your farm to enjoy the agritainment you’re offering. This can include figuring out space for their cars. If visitors will be parking on or near your property, clearly designating parking areas with signage, wayfinding, and barriers can make a big difference. Although you won’t be able to eliminate the risk of car accidents or damage from cars to your property, you can reduce the risk with designated and properly identified safe parking areas.

6. Determine Visiting Schedule and Hours

Whether you are welcoming visitors for the first time as a new agritainment operation or opening back up for an operating season, it’s important to determine your opening hours and schedule. Although you can change this as you need to, and situations may come up that affect your hours, knowing your operating schedule and standard hours of operation is key to your agribusiness. Making this information readily available to visitors:

• allows them to plan their trip
• allows you to set expectations as the operator
• can help protect you in the event of trespassing or visits occurring outside of operating hours and without your knowledge

7. Create Clear Visitor Guidelines

Creating clear visitor guidelines is essential before welcoming visitors to your farm. Having policies and rules for visitors to follow and clearly posting them protects them, protects you, protects your livestock, protects your property, and more.

Plus, should something occur as a result of a visitor not following posted rules or guidelines, you have some protection against being held liable for it. Depending on the situation and the people involved, you may still need to deal with them attempting to file a claim, but you’ll have some support and evidence on your side, as well as the liability coverage on your agribusiness insurance policy.

8. Update and Add Signage

Proper signage around your farm can help create a safer environment, manage visitor flow, and also reduce liability risk. Signs can be used to:

• Communicate visitor rules and guidelines
• Provide directions and wayfinding
• Designate visitor zones
• Mark areas off-limits or restrict access
• Clearly identify hazards
• Communicate warnings
• Display permits
• Display other important information

Effective signage, in addition to regular maintenance, cleanup, and management, can make a big difference in reducing liability in your agritourism operation. “No Trespassing” signs and clearly restricted access can also provide some liability protection against incidents that occur as a result of unauthorized access to restricted areas. This is one of the ways farmers can manage liability risks during hunting season, too.

9. Update Security Protocols, Emergency Plans, and First-Aid Kits

Regularly reviewing your security protocols, emergency plans, and first aid stations and supplies, and updating them when needed, is important. It only becomes more essential when you invite other people onto your property, whether as employees or as visitors. Not only can this help reduce the risk of an incident occurring, but it also facilitates rapid response and harm reduction should something happen.

10. Review Disease Prevention and Biosecurity Protocols

Disease prevention and biosecurity protocols are essential for protecting your animals, reducing risk, and protecting your ag investment. Not having a disease prevention plan and not regularly updating it are mistakes to avoid when insuring livestock and are serious oversights that can leave your animals vulnerable.

These are also big mistakes when you invite the public onto your property and allow them to interact with your animals. It is essential to establish safety guidelines, rules, and biosecurity protocols to create a safer environment for your visitors and for your animals.

11. Go Over Safety Policies With All Employees

Other important things to do before welcoming visitors to your farm are to clearly define roles with employees and go over all safety policies with them. All employees should know the rules and policies of the farm and should be trained in safety practices associated with them.

Everyone should also have a clear idea of their roles and responsibilities. Should something happen, every employee should know who is responsible for what and what to do. Not only does this keep everyone safer, but it also empowers employees to handle issues or unexpected situations better and more efficiently.

12. Check Your Permits

Agritourism has its own regulations. Plus, every state and local municipality will have its own regulations and requirements. Before you invite anyone to your farm, check your permits and make sure you meet all regulations.

13. Review Current Insurance Coverage

A farm and ranch annual insurance review is a good idea. It’s also a good idea to have a conversation with your insurance agent anytime there are changes to your ag operation, and especially if one of those changes is moving into agritainment and allowing public access to your property. There are insurance considerations for barn weddings, hayrides, product stands, and more that will need to be reviewed and potential insurance gaps that need to be addressed.

You want to make sure that you have the right insurance coverage and enough of it before you welcome visitors to your farm. Having your agent walk through your property with you is a good idea and can provide valuable insights. Not only will they have a better understanding of your operation, but they may also have further insights and advice on other things you can do to reduce risk.

14. Plan Regular Risk Assessments

Before, during, and after your property is open to the public, you want to be planning and running regular risk assessments. This will ensure that you are proactively identifying potential issues and fixing them before they become bigger and more serious problems.

On top of reducing risk and making your property safer for everyone involved, regular risk assessments and documentation of your maintenance, repairs, and safety improvements could result in additional benefits from your insurer. Whether via discounted premiums, access to exclusive benefits, or something else, reducing your risk as an insured pays off and can result in valuable bonuses from your insurance company.

Get the Insurance You Need For Your Ag Operation

These are a few things to do before welcoming visitors back to your farm to help reduce your risks. In addition to maintaining your property to reduce risks, having the right insurance, and enough of it, can make a big difference in protecting your ag investment.

If you need to review your farm insurance policy or obtain new coverage for your ag operation, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880. We can help you get the coverage you need for your unique ag operation!

The post 14 Things to Do Before Welcoming Visitors to Your Farm appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

Do You Need Insurance on Leased Farmland?

Yes. You need insurance on rented/leased farmland. There are different factors and considerations that will determine what types of coverage you need and who covers what, but rented or leased farmland needs coverage just like owned farmland. Both the owners of the land and the parties renting the land need to ensure there are no gaps in insurance coverage and that risks are managed and mitigated.

7 Reasons Why You Need Farm Insurance For Rented Land

Here are some of the reasons why you need farm insurance for rented land:

1. A standard homeowner’s policy doesn’t cover commercial farming activities.
2. Lease agreements may require it.
3. Your assets need to be protected while on rented land.
4. Liability coverage needs to extend to the rented land.
5. You need coverage to handle potential property damage.
6. The use of farm chemicals often needs coverage.
7. There may be additional specific risks that need to be covered.

1. A Standard Homeowner’s Policy Doesn’t Cover Commercial Farming Activities

One of the biggest reasons why farmers renting land need farm insurance coverage specifically is that commercial farming activities are one of the things a standard homeowner’s policy does not cover, not even hobby farms. If you are the one renting farmland for farming activities from someone else, a farm insurance policy with the right coverage will protect you like a renter’s insurance policy would in a residential situation.

Similar to a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy, the right farm insurance policy for renting land will have some standard coverages with opportunities to extend protection with additional coverage or endorsements to make sure you are adequately covered for your specific situation, activities, and assets.

2. Lease Agreements May Require It

Similar to rental policies, lease agreements on farmland may require that the renter have a farm insurance policy with sufficient coverage. Lease terms and requirements will vary. In some cases, the landowner may require the renter to obtain their own liability policy and list the landowner as an additional insured. Depending on the types of insurance the landowner has, there may be some coverage via the landowner’s policy that extends to renters.

However, as a renter, you don’t want to rely on this alone. Even if the lease agreement does not specifically require you to obtain your own policy, it is a good idea to talk to your insurance agent and make sure you have the coverage you need to mitigate risk and adequately protect yourself in the event of a claim. Both parties, the landowner and the tenant, need to be aware of what is and is not covered on each of their policies and between them.

3. Your Assets Need to Be Protected While on Rented Land

Another reason why farmers renting land need farm insurance coverage is that any assets need to be protected while on rented land. Depending on the coverage included in your current policy, you may have some protection for equipment in some situations. However, this depends on what standard farm personal property insurance does and does not cover, and the specific coverage included on your policy.

It is important to talk to your insurance agent and make sure the assets you will have on rented land will be sufficiently covered under your current coverage. If not, you may need to obtain a different policy or add coverage for any assets that will be moving to and from or staying on the land you are renting.

Farm insurance with the right types of coverage, including any endorsements you need, and sufficient limits can protect your personal property from damage or theft while being used or stored on rented land. Depending on how you will be using the rented farmland, assets could include:

• Machinery and equipment
• Tools
• Livestock
• Annual inputs (seeds, fertilizer, etc.)
• Crops
• And more

4. Liability Coverage Needs to Extend to the Rented Land

In addition to property coverage, crop insurance coverage, livestock coverage, and other types of coverage needed to protect your assets, liability coverage also needs to extend to the rented land. Whether it’s you, your family, your employees, volunteers, or members of the public, you could be liable for injuries that occur on the land you are renting and/or with equipment or other assets you own.

Ensuring liability coverage extends to any situations on rented land can protect you and others from costly medical bills or legal proceedings as a result of an accident or bodily injury incident. This could be as simple as increasing limits or adding endorsements to an existing umbrella liability policy. What is important is that the liability coverage limits are sufficient and that the coverage travels with you and extends to rented land, too.

Depending on your situation, the activities, and who is involved, you may need to acquire or extend farm workers’ compensation coverage in addition to liability coverage to make sure employees are adequately protected. Your insurance agent is a valuable resource who can help you review your coverage and ensure you are adequately insured. If you do need to obtain new coverage or adjust current coverage, your agent will be able to help you customize your policy to best suit your needs.

5. You Need Coverage to Handle Potential Property Damage

In addition to property damage protection for your assets on rented land, you also need to consider coverage for potential property damage caused by a person, your equipment, your livestock, etc. on rented land, and beyond it. Whether it’s an accident that damages the landowner’s structures, damage caused by a guest or visitor on the property, or damage somewhere else caused by escaped livestock, the right property damage coverage will help cover the loss according to the policy.

Additional farm/ranch umbrella liability coverage can be one way to obtain this protection. Depending on your situation and other coverage you have, you may have other options available that are better suited to your needs. Here, too, your insurance agent will be able to walk you through the options that fit your situation and needs and help you determine the best approach for you.

6. The Use of Farm Chemicals Often Needs Coverage

Treating, managing, and maintaining the quality of soil and crops can be a process. Farmers have a variety of tools, technologies, and treatments available to help manage that process, which can carry their own set of risks. Some of the most commonly used for increasing yield and protecting crops are manure, other fertilizers, and farm chemicals.

If you are applying or spreading manure or spraying farm chemicals, there is a risk of sudden and accidental discharge. Should that result in negative consequences or damage in some way, you could be considered liable for those damages and any costs associated with the cleanup. This is a risk whether you are spraying on land you own or on rented farmland.

Farm Pollution Liability coverage is important for any farmer applying or spraying farm chemicals. Many farm insurance policies can provide this coverage for sudden and accidental discharge. Make sure you talk to your insurance agent about your ag operations, on your land and on rented land. They will help ensure you have the right coverage you need on your farm insurance policy.

7. There May Be Additional Specific Risks That Need to Be Covered

Sharing resources with other farmers, preparing or selling food products, being open to the public, and more are all reasons why ag operations may need additional liability coverage. Similarly, there may be additional specific risks that need to be covered with rented farmland as well.

Depending on the land being rented, the landowner’s coverage, the lease agreement, the renter’s coverage, how the land will be used, and more, there are likely to be other risks associated with specific situations. If these do not fall under existing coverage, then additional coverage may be required via endorsements or other types of policies.

Having a conversation with your insurance agent can make getting the right coverage so much easier. Some of the biggest benefits of working with an independent insurance agent are a personalized approach and advice tailored to your specific situation, which is invaluable when navigating a complex insurance landscape.

4 Common Types of Farmland Rental Arrangements

Although specific terms and conditions will be set by individual landowners or land managers and will vary, rental arrangements and lease agreements for farmland tend to fall into four categories. Here are some common types of farmland rental agreements:

1. Fixed cash lease
2. Flexible cash lease
3. Crop share lease
4. Custom farming/contract farming

1. Fixed Cash Lease

Generally, on a fixed cash lease agreement, the renter pays a fixed amount per acre they are renting per year. If the tenant is using the farmland for crops, livestock, or other production under the USDA commodity program, they will receive the payments associated with that production.

The landowner may have conditions or restrictions on the types of crops, treatments, livestock, etc., but the tenant has control over production on their rented acres within the parameters of the lease agreement. Under this model, the tenant is renting the land, pays the landowner for the land, and retains all yield and payments from production on the land.

2. Flexible Cash Lease

With a flexible cash lease agreement, rent is usually determined by the profits made by the tenant on the farmland they are renting. This means rent payments are variable depending on actual yields and selling prices during the lease period.

Under this type of agreement, the tenant’s rent will be lower when there are lower yields and potentially higher when yields are higher. Conversely, the landowner takes on more risk as they will profit less when yields are low. At the same time, if yields are high, the landowner may have an opportunity to earn more via higher rent payments.

Government payments and crop insurance benefits are sometimes included when calculating gross revenue. Sometimes, crop input costs will be taken into account when determining rent payments or landowner bonuses. This will depend on the parameters and details of specific flexible cash lease agreements.

3. Crop Share Lease

Under a crop share lease, the landowner “collects rent” from a tenant via a share of the crop yield and a corresponding portion of USDA commodity payments for production on rented land. Although it is not a guarantee across the board, landowners generally pay property taxes and carry insurance for structures (buildings and dwellings) on the rented land under this model.

If this is the case, it should be clear in the conditions of the lease agreement. Landowners may also contribute to the material inputs required to farm the land, but this depends on individual landowners and specific details of lease agreements. The specific percentage or split between tenant and landowner in a crop share lease will vary and will be determined by the lease agreement. In some cases, it may be a 50-50, and could include a cash payment to offset other fees associated with production.

Other splits could be set as a partial percentage, like the landowner receiving 25-30% of the crop yield. Depending on the crops, the land, and buildings on the land, there may be separate charges for renting buildings or storage bins on the property as part of the lease agreement. There are several variations for crop share leases; specific splits and parameters should be clearly detailed in the lease agreement and understood by all parties involved.

4. Custom Farming/Contract Farming

With custom farming or contract farming, the landowner pays all other expenses associated with the rented land and pays a fixed amount to an operator. Under this model, a custom/contract farming operator will use their equipment and labor on the landowner’s farmland to manage production and will receive a fixed payment per acre from the landowner for their work. In addition to paying all other expenses, the landowner also receives all the crop yield and USDA payments for production from those acres under this model.

3 Factors That Impact Insurance Coverage on Farmland

Factors that affect the insurance coverage on farmland can include:

1. The farm’s location
2. Ownership structure
3. How the farmland is used

7 Types of Insurance to Consider For Rented Farmland

Individual situations will vary, but there are some types of insurance coverage to consider in general for rented farmland. Talking to an insurance agent with experience in ag can help you navigate the right coverage for your situation. Here are some common types of insurance to consider for rented farmland:

1. Crop Insurance
2. Livestock Insurance coverage
3. Property Insurance coverage
4. Liability Insurance coverage
5. Farm Pollution Liability coverage
6. Farm Vehicle Insurance
7. Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Get the Right Farm Insurance Coverage For Your Ag Operation

Personal property and equipment protection, protecting livestock, liability coverage, and more are reasons why farmers renting land need farm insurance coverage. Whether on your own farmland or rented farmland, it’s important to have the right farm insurance coverage in place before you need it. If you need to acquire new coverage or review your farm insurance policy, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880.

The post Why Farmers Renting Land Need Farm Insurance Coverage appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

1. Equine Mortality Insurance
2. Equine Major Medical and Surgical Coverage
3. Loss of Use Coverage
4. Personal Equine Liability Insurance
5. Professional Equine Liability Insurance
6. Care, Custody, and Control (CCC) Insurance
7. Coverage For Transportation
8. Show and Event Liability Insurance

1. Equine Mortality Insurance

Equine Mortality insurance is essentially life insurance for your horse. Mortality policies generally cover death due to accident, injury, or illness. This is a foundational coverage for horses that stay on the farm, as well as horses that travel. Not getting a mortality policy is one of the mistakes to avoid when insuring livestock, including horses.

Horses are also a substantial investment, and Equine Mortality is a protection should something happen. This is one of the reasons why you need Equine Mortality insurance. Horses that travel to shows and compete also carry extra risks due to those situations. Should something occur that would result in the loss of a horse under the coverage of the policy, an Equine Mortality policy can help cover costs associated with it.

2. Equine Major Medical and Surgical Coverage

Considered an essential coverage for horses in general, including those competing in equine events, is Equine Major Medical and Surgical Coverage. This coverage can help cover costs associated with unexpected veterinary expenses due to illness or injury that do not result in the loss of a horse.

When it comes to unexpected veterinary expenses due to injury or illness with horses, Major Medical coverage can bridge the gap when Equine Mortality does not apply and help you cover the costs of veterinary care to heal your horse. This is the biggest reason why horse owners should consider Equine Major Medical insurance.

However, there are some important caveats with this essential coverage:

• Major Medical and Surgical is an endorsement to an Equine Mortality policy.
• It must be purchased as an add-on to a Mortality policy and cannot be purchased separately as a standalone policy.
• It does not cover routine veterinary care and maintenance.
• Major Medical usually includes Surgical coverage, but there may be Surgical Only policies available.
• Like Major Medical, Surgical Only policies are an endorsement that must be added to an Equine Mortality policy.

3. Loss of Use Coverage

Loss of Use coverage may technically be optional coverage, but the value it can provide as a protection for your investment is essential, especially in the context of show horses. Should a horse no longer be able to perform or compete due to a covered loss (injury, illness, etc.), Loss of Use coverage will cover a percentage of the horse’s value.

This coverage is particularly valuable for high-level performance horses. Should they sustain an injury that does not completely disable them, but may mean they are no longer able to compete in shows, Loss of Use coverage can reimburse you for some of the financial loss that comes with no longer being able to compete or show with that horse.

4. Personal Equine Liability Insurance

Personal Equine Liability insurance protects you from expenses related to legal action against you should your horse cause property damage or bodily injury to another person. A standard Homeowner’s insurance might not cover these situations. If you have a farm insurance policy, there may be coverage gaps for these horse-related incidents as well.

With all the activity that comes with horse shows, including potential interactions with other people, other horses, other people’s property, and more, there is also a lot of potential risk for a situation to occur with your horse. With a Personal Equine Liability policy, you can make sure you are adequately protected should an incident occur where your horse injures a third party or damages something, and you are found legally liable for it.

5. Professional Equine Liability Insurance

Equine liability risks get more complicated if there are commercial exposures involved. This is something to consider when evaluating General Liability vs Professional Liability coverage. Should an incident occur with your horse in a commercial capacity, it may not be covered under a standard personal Equine Liability policy.

Generally, when there are commercial operations and the risks that come with them, Commercial Equine General Liability and Professional Equine Liability insurance is required for coverage. Activities like showing, training, boarding, and more are all likely to require Professional Equine Liability.

Are you sure you’re insured with the right equine insurance? Make sure you have a conversation with your insurance agent about your horses and how you use them to make sure you have the liability coverage you need, including coverage for all commercial operations and professional capacities.

6. Care, Custody, and Control (CCC) Insurance

Care, Custody, and Control (CCC) insurance may not be necessary for everyone, but it often comes into play for stables, boarding facilities, horse show grounds, and more. Care, Custody, and Control (CCC) insurance is essentially liability coverage for animals under your care that you do not own.

It’s a coverage that is important for contract growers or contract farmers. It also applies to horse stable owners, trainers who handle horses that they don’t own, and property owners who host horse shows. Should a horse under your care become injured, lost, or die, and you are considered legally liable for it, CCC will cover the medical costs or replacement costs for that animal.

7. Coverage For Transportation

Horse shows generally require travel and transporting animals. It’s important to make sure your insurance coverage protects your horses during transport. If you do not have coverage for this, or enough coverage, under your existing policies, specific transit insurance will be necessary.

Depending on your situation and the policy, this can also include emergency stabling in case of an accident or another incident. Options may be available for single trips or as an annual policy if you regularly travel to several shows throughout the year.

8. Show and Event Liability Insurance

Show and Event Liability insurance usually only applies to event organizers and hosts. Available as a short-term event policy for specific events or an annual policy for recurring events or dedicated venues, Equine Event Liability insurance provides protection from liability for property damage or bodily injury at horse shows, clinics, and other events.

Although there may be equine participation liability laws in some states, these are not comprehensive enough to replace the need for Equine Liability and Equine Event Liability. Also, most venues will require proof of event liability insurance before an event.

If you are the host or organizer behind an event, this is essential insurance coverage for horse show season. Depending on the details of the event, what else might be on the premises, and more, other coverages to consider if they are not already included in your event policy may include Spectator Liability, Event Cancellation, Liquor Liability, Host Liquor Liability, etc.

Make Sure Your Horses Are Properly Insured With Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance

These are a few essential insurance coverages for horse show season to discuss with your insurance agent. Depending on your situation, you may need to drop unnecessary coverage, add necessary coverage, adjust limits, etc. to have the equine insurance you need.

What matters is getting the right coverage for your horses before you need it. Getting personalized advice and policies customized to your needs are some benefits of working with an independent insurance agent. If you have questions about your current equine insurance coverage or need to acquire new equine coverage, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880.

The post 8 Essential Insurance Coverages For Horse Show Season appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

1. Make sure your belongings are covered.
2. Increase policy limits or obtain additional coverage, if needed.
3. Create a personal property inventory list.
4. Ensure college students have liability coverage, too.
5. Check your auto insurance coverage.
6. Determine whether students will need their own health insurance.
7. Consider life insurance.

1. Make Sure Your Belongings Are Covered

Insurance protection for personal belongings is one of the insurance considerations for college students that is often overlooked. It’s easy to assume that property in student dorms is protected, but this may not always be the case.

It’s essential to review your existing homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance policy to understand:

• What coverage is currently on your policy
• If any coverage will extend to students at college
• Amounts, limits, and exclusions associated with that coverage

In some cases, there may be some protection for personal property away from the premises, but this is not a guarantee, and there are likely limits on that coverage. For example, some homeowner’s insurance policies will include protection for personal property away from the premises based on a base amount or percentage of the Contents (Coverage C).

If your current policy offers a base amount of 10% of the Contents for personal property away from the premises, this could amount to coverage for a college student’s belongings for up to 10% of the household’s total contents coverage. This would provide some protection for a college student’s personal belongings in their dorm room or on-campus apartment, provided it is enough to cover the value of the property.

2. Increase Policy Limits or Obtain Additional Coverage, If Needed

Even if there is some coverage for property in the dorm on existing policies, there will likely be limits on it. If the limit does not adequately cover the value of that property or does not apply to your situation, you will want to increase the limit or obtain additional coverage. For some high-value items, a personal property floater or a stand-alone policy may make more sense for adequate coverage.

In some situations, it may make more sense for the student to obtain renter’s insurance to adequately cover their belongings. This can apply to students living in dorms or campus housing, but tends to be more common when the student is living off-campus.

3. Create a Personal Property Inventory List

If your college student doesn’t already have a personal property inventory list, creating one for what they’ll be taking with them to campus is a great place to start. Not only will this help them get started with an inventory that can grow and update with them, but it will also help them determine and keep track of the value of that property.

If they already have a personal property inventory list, it is still useful to create a specific “dorm inventory” list of the items that will be going to college with them. This is a good opportunity to update or add details for items already accounted for in an inventory, remove items that are no longer owned, and add anything new that has been acquired.

This information can also be used to make sure insurance policies have adequate coverage and limits for the value of the property. Plus, if anything were to happen while on campus, detailed property inventory lists can help settle claims faster and help ensure that you are fully reimbursed for the loss, per the terms of your policy.

4. Ensure College Students Have Liability Coverage, Too

Similar to property coverage, there may be liability coverage on existing policies that extends to a college student. Provided they are a resident of your home and are just temporarily on campus for the school year, this is coverage that would apply if someone were to get injured in your student’s dorm room, they damaged someone else’s property, or there were claims made against your child that require legal intervention.

However, here, too, there may be exclusions for certain situations, there may be limits, and it may not apply to students in off-campus housing. Especially for college students in off-campus housing, a good renter’s insurance policy is usually a better option for property and liability coverage during the semester.

Depending on the student’s situation and the existing policies in place, it may make sense to increase limits, add riders or endorsements, or obtain additional policies. This could be a separate renter’s policy for the college student and/or umbrella insurance to help fill potential coverage gaps.

5. Check Your Auto Insurance Coverage

Regardless of whether your college student’s car goes with them to campus or stays at home with you, it will need auto insurance. Even cars that are in storage usually need to be insured. Either way, you will want to talk to your insurance agent about your current auto policy and coverage.

If the car stays with you while your college student is away and will be driven less often, you could see a temporary decrease in your premium for that time. If the car will be going with your student to college, your insurance agent will need to be aware and your policy adjusted accordingly, if needed. Depending on the location of the school and other factors, your rate may be affected.

If your student is taking their car to school, make sure your existing auto insurance policy:

• Covers out-of-state driving
• Provides or covers roadside assistance
• Has adequate towing coverage

Also, check with your insurance agent about any “good student discounts” or other potential discounts your student may be eligible for. It could even make sense for your student to obtain their own auto policy. Your insurance agent will be able to walk you through your current coverage and help you determine the best next steps for your situation.

6. Determine Whether Students Will Need Their Own Health Insurance

Although children can usually be covered on their parents’ health insurance policies until they are 26, there are other health insurance considerations for college students. Depending on the health insurance plan type and specific details, college students in other locations and states can run into limits on coverage for certain services, high deductibles on care, issues with providers being out-of-network, and more.

Make sure you understand what is and isn’t covered by your current health insurance when it comes to your college student. The insurance contact for your health insurance might be different from who you go to for your homeowner’s insurance, but it’s still a good idea to reach out to them if you need to. Depending on your situation, it may make more sense to look at the health insurance options provided by the college for students or obtain a separate policy for the student.

7. Consider Life Insurance

Part of obtaining insurance is preparing for the worst and hoping you never have to use it. Should something happen to you or your child, life insurance policies can help ease the funeral costs and financial burdens that can follow for the surviving family members.

If a parent is helping a child pay for college, it can be worth considering a term life insurance policy for the time the child will be attending school. Should something happen to the parent before the student graduates, funds from the life insurance policy can help a student continue to pay for tuition and stay in school.

If a student is taking out their own loans or taking on loans to help with tuition, it can be worth considering a term life insurance policy in their name for the time they will be in college. Should something happen to them before the loans are paid in full, funds from the life insurance policy can help pay off that balance.

Get the Insurance You Need on Campus

These are a few insurance tips for college students. The right policies and limits will depend on your specific situation. Your insurance agent can work through the details with you and help you make sure you have the coverage you need. If you need to review your insurance policy or need to explore new coverage options, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880.

The post 7 Insurance Tips for College Students appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

1. What type of agritainment are you considering for your farm?
2. What are you hoping to gain from a specific agritainment activity?
3. Do you have the resources to add agritainment to your operations?
4. Can you handle the risk associated with agritainment?
5. Do you have the right insurance coverage for agritainment?

1. What Type of Agritainment Are You Considering For Your Farm?

Agritourism, or agriculture tourism or agritainment, covers a lot of different activities. From education to recreation, retail, and more, any activities that bring the public onto your farm or ranch can fall under the agritainment umbrella. The activities you’re considering will each have their own set of specific considerations and implications for your farm, insurance coverage, etc.

29 Common Types of Agritainment Activities

Common types of agritainment activities can include, but are not limited to:

1. Direct farm marketing (farm markets or market goods)
2. Farm tours
3. School field trips
4. Nursery/greenhouse tours
5. Hayrides/Tractor rides
6. Scavenger hunts
7. Nature trails
8. Corn mazes
9. Sleigh rides
10. Horse-drawn carriage rides (on the property)
11. Horse-drawn carriage tours (outside the property)
12. Christmas tree farms
13. U-Pick or Pick-Your-Own operations
14. Petting zoos or animal feeding
15. Horseback riding
16. Horse training
17. Livestock shows or demonstrations
18. Wine tasting
19. Harvest festivals
20. Farm stays/B&Bs
21. Camping
22. Farm-to-table dinners
23. Cooking classes
24. Farm-themed workshops/classes
25. Barn dances
26. Barn weddings
27. Renting buildings for events
28. Animal/farm chore participation
29. Birdwatching/wildlife viewing

2. What Are You Hoping to Gain From a Specific Agritainment Activity?

When thinking about your farm or ranch and determining what agritainment activities you might consider pursuing, also consider what you hope to gain from a specific activity and how it could affect other areas of your operation. There can be several benefits of expanding into agritainment, and knowing what you hope to accomplish with a specific agritainment activity can help you determine what is right for your specific situation to achieve them.

9 Potential Benefits of Adding Agritainment to Your Farm or Ranch

Here are some of the potential benefits of expanding into agritainment for your farm or ranch:

1. Diversifying revenue streams
2. Utilizing existing resources better
3. Improving farm sustainability
4. Allows for year-round opportunities
5. Creating value-added opportunities
6. Boosting branding and marketing for your farm
7. Increasing public engagement
8. Building stronger community connections
9. Offering agricultural education opportunities

14 Questions to Ask When Evaluating the Goals of Potential Agritainment Activities

Take some time to define your goals and consider the consequences, unintended or otherwise. Ask yourself:

1. What goals are you trying to achieve by adding this revenue stream?
2. How does this activity align with your ag operation’s identity and core values?
3. How does it benefit your ag operation?
4. Is the activity seasonal or year-round?
5. How could this activity grow or scale over time?
6. What other areas of your ag operation would a specific agritainment activity affect?
7. How does it affect day-to-day farm operations for your core ag business?
8. Who is your target customer for the activity?
9. What is the local demand or competition for the activity?
10. Are there things you are currently lacking that could keep you from reaching your desired goals?
11. Are there resources you will need to acquire to successfully offer a specific agritainment activity?
12. Are there external or community resources that could benefit you?
13. Are there external or community factors that could hurt your new agribusiness venture?
14. What other challenges might be associated with adding a specific agritainment activity?

For example, farms that grow row crops could convert a fallow field into a seasonal maze. However, the public access and use of this land does have an effect on the land, which can affect how and when you prepare and use it for future growing seasons.

If you produce market goods that you already sell to the public or want to sell to the public, cooking classes, workshops, or demonstrations using those products can help you bring more people in, connect with them directly, provide them with something of value, and sell more of your farm products. At the same time, this does mean making sure you have the market goods available, as well as the space, tools, and time for hosting the classes/workshops.

3. Do You Have the Resources to Add Agritainment to Your Operations?

Running a business is difficult, and agricultural operations have distinct challenges and obstacles. With the addition of public access to your property, plus everything involved with the activity itself, agritainment adds even more unique challenges to managing an ag operation. There will be several things to do before welcoming visitors to your farm, in addition to actually running the agritainment activities.

Agritourism will also require time and resources, and can pull you away from your core ag operation. If you do not have enough time, resources, staff, etc. to run your core ag business as well as the agritainment activities you want to add, you won’t be able to do what is required to run both of them successfully.

4. Can You Handle the Risk Associated With Agritourism?

Agritourism can increase opportunities for your farm or ranch, but it also multiplies risk. There is always a risk with anything new. In the case of agritourism, you have to consider the risks of the venture itself, along with all of the risks that come along with allowing visitors onto your farm or ranch property, while also protecting your primary ag business.

Training your employees, maintaining your property, posting visible signage and safety guidelines, and more can help lower risk and help farmers avoid frivolous liability claims. Having the right pieces in place to run your agritainment ventures, whether that’s equipment, employees, or other resources, makes a big difference in managing the risk associated with expanding your ag operation into agritainment.

5. Do You Have the Right Insurance Coverage For Agritainment?

Because agritourism adds new potential risks to a farm or ranch, there will be insurance considerations for your operation. Expanding your operations, especially when expanding into agritainment, is one of the reasons why you need additional liability coverage for your ag operation.

You may also find that your current farmowner’s policy doesn’t have the coverage you need for agribusiness ventures. Exploring an agribusiness policy vs a farmowner’s policy is an important conversation to have with your insurance agent when you are considering expanding into agritainment for your farm.

They will also be able to review your current coverage and identify any changes that need to be made or endorsements that should be added to cover your new agribusiness ventures. Having the right insurance is key to lowering your risk and protecting your agritainment investment, while also protecting your core ag business.

Get the Agritainment Insurance You Need With Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance

Is agritainment right for your farm? It can be in the right circumstances. After considering everything involved, if you’ve decided that adding agritainment to your farm is the right decision, you can start working through the business plan as well as the legal, liability, and insurance considerations to get started.

If you need to review your farm insurance policy or add insurance coverage for new agritainment operations, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880. We can help you get the commercial agribusiness insurance coverage you need for your ag operation.

The post Is Agritainment Right For Your Farm? appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

1. Underinsuring livestock or having insufficient limits
2. Not getting mortality insurance
3. Not listing all insured on the policy
4. Focusing on short-term fixes
5. Not having a disease prevention plan
6. Only having coverage for certain types of loss
7. Not having protection against market swings or loss of income
8. Ignoring or not understanding policy exclusions
9. Not consulting an experienced agent
10. Not updating insurance regularly

Mistake #1 – Underinsuring Livestock or Having Insufficient Limits

One of the most common mistakes to avoid when insuring livestock is underinsuring them or having insufficient limits on your policy. Not only does this underestimate the value of your livestock assets and productions, but it can also leave you undercompensated if a loss occurs.

Having enough insurance is one thing. Keeping accurate and detailed inventory records on your livestock can help ensure your animals are correctly valued and sufficiently covered on your insurance policy. Include and update things like:

• Species
• Breed
• Age
• Gender
• Purchase price
• Purchase receipts
• Photographs
• Current market value
• Health records

Not having the right types of coverage or the right limits on your insurance policy is a serious risk of financial loss if something goes wrong with your livestock or operations, which is why these are mistakes to avoid when insuring your livestock and farm. Without proper coverage, the larger the scale of the loss, the bigger the financial loss your operation incurs. With sufficient coverage for your livestock, assets, and operation, your ranch is protected against vulnerabilities, and you can avoid costly surprises.

Mistake #2 – Not Getting Mortality Insurance

Your animals are key assets to your ag operation. Not only are they a substantial financial investment, but their health and care are essential to your livestock operation’s long-term profitability. Losing an animal isn’t just the loss of the animal itself, but also means a decrease in production, future potential, and more.

Not having insurance coverage for those situations when they occur can mean substantial financial losses for your operation. Livestock mortality insurance is like life insurance for your animals. Rates will vary based on use of the animal, age, and more, but this insurance can provide coverage in the event of a loss. Not getting mortality insurance is a mistake to avoid when insuring livestock.

When it comes to equine mortality insurance, another common mistake is not adding major medical coverage as an endorsement on the policy. Major medical coverage is only available as an add-on to a mortality policy and can help cover unexpected or unforeseen veterinary expenses should your horse get injured or become ill. These are some essential insurance coverages for horse show season that equine professionals and horse owners should consider when insuring their horses.

Mistake #3 – Not Listing All Insureds on the Policy

Having the right insurance for your livestock is one thing; making sure the coverage extends to everyone else in your livestock operation is another. What is needed can vary depending on liability coverage and policies, but you want to make sure that your insurance coverage extends to cover whoever is working in your operation and working with or around your livestock.

Check your insurance policy declarations page and see who is listed as an insured on the policy. Make sure everyone who should be listed on the policy is listed on the policy. If anyone needs to be added, or if you are not sure if someone or a specific situation would be covered, ask your insurance agent. It’s important to know the coverage you have and to update your policy if needed before you need to use it.

Mistake #4 – Focusing on Short-Term Fixes

Another common mistake to avoid when insuring livestock is focusing on short-term fixes while ignoring long-term risks and challenges. You may need insurance to help you handle immediate situations. However, if you are not also taking measures to manage risk long-term, you are leaving your operation vulnerable to loss and repeated problems in the future.

A common example of this is a disease outbreak that causes some of your animals to fall ill. There are immediate responses required to handle that situation and protect your livestock. Depending on the situation and the insurance coverage you have, your policy may also respond. In addition to handling the immediate situation, it is essential to review and improve biosecurity measures to help prevent outbreaks and ensure the protection of your animals in the future.

Relying on short-term fixes and ignoring these necessary considerations for long-term risk management is a mistake. Not only can it cause extensive financial loss in your operation, but it can also result in repeated claims in the future, which can increase your insurance costs, lead to claims being denied, becoming ineligible for certain types of coverage, or even a non-renewal notice for your policy.

Mistake #5 – Not Having a Disease Prevention Plan

Disease outbreaks can easily wipe out your flock or herd. Even if a disease outbreak is able to be contained quickly, it can still be devastating for your operation. Not only can there be production delays and costly treatments, but there can also be ongoing health concerns for your livestock. Preventative care and biosecurity protocols are essential for protecting your livestock. They are also required by some livestock insurance policies.

Having good biosecurity measures and protocols in place for disease prevention can help reduce the risk for your livestock when there are outbreaks. It can also help reduce the risk of the spread of human diseases to your animals, which makes this an important thing to do before welcoming visitors to your farm and increasing contamination risks for your livestock. Additionally, you can invest in insurance coverage that can help reduce the financial loss from disease outbreaks. In addition to protection and stability for your operation, this also allows you to focus your time and energy on recovery.

Mistake #6 – Only Having Coverage For Certain Types of Loss

It’s important to consider all potential risks to your operation and have coverage for likely types of loss. If you do not consider all potential risks and only have coverage for certain types of loss, you could be leaving your livestock operation unprotected and vulnerable.

Potential risks for livestock operations can include, but are not limited to:

• Damage or loss caused by severe weather
• Feed supply shortages
• Labor shortages
• Safety concerns for workers
• Animal health issues
• Environmental hazards
• Economic instability
• Market volatility

Severe Weather

Severe weather and extreme weather can cause severe damage to livestock operations. In addition to damaged buildings or equipment, broken fences, or damage to other infrastructure, debris or damage from storms can reduce or block access to feed, or block or disrupt the water supply.

Livestock can be injured in storms, and they can also cause livestock deaths. If fences and perimeters are damaged, livestock can also escape and wander away from your property, which also leaves them vulnerable.

Preparing for weather-related risks as much as possible can help prevent loss and reduce damage when they occur. You can also explore weather-related insurance coverage with your agent to make sure your operation has some insurance protection against these potential losses. The right coverage, and enough of it, can help keep your operation stable and keep it running after severe weather.

Feed Supply Shortages

Severe weather isn’t the only thing that can disrupt feed supply and cause a shortage. There can be supply chain issues, including shipping delays or decreased yields, as well as increased demand that can also cause feed supply shortages.

This has a huge impact on the health and safety of your livestock. On top of potential shortages, you may also have to contend with rising feed prices, which can be a challenge for your operation to handle and can cause instability in your production or profitability.

Instead of facing decreased productivity and profit, there are coverages available to help provide stability to weather fluctuations in the market or other issues. Make sure you discuss your options with your agent to determine what is available for you and what makes the most sense to address risk for your livestock operation.

Labor Risks

Labor shortages or workplace injuries are common labor risks that can cause disruption in a livestock operation, especially for skilled workers. If labor is scarce and you cannot find the employees you need, or if an employee is injured and cannot work, it is difficult to keep production running smoothly and at the same rate. In these situations, there can often be downtime that slows down or limits production. Increases to operational costs also often follow on top of any compensation for injured workers.

Comprehensive labor risk coverage for your livestock operation should include liability coverage and farm worker’s compensation coverage. Depending on your operation and specific situation, there may be other risks that require other coverages. A conversation with your insurance agent and a review of your farm insurance policy can help ensure you have the coverage you need.

Mistake #7 – Not Having Protection Against Market Swings or Loss of Income

Another one of the mistakes to avoid when insuring livestock is not having protection against market swings or loss of income. Livestock Risk Protection is a USDA livestock insurance program that can help protect eligible livestock from market swings or changes in commodity prices, at least against declining livestock prices.

When a loss occurs that disrupts your production, there is often a loss of income, and there could also be additional expenses that are required to keep operations going during a loss. Although they don’t protect against market changes or economic variations, Loss of Business Income and Extra Expense Coverage can help provide protection from financial loss or additional expenses incurred due to a covered cause of loss.

Mistake #8 – Ignoring or Not Understanding Policy Exclusions

A key mistake to avoid when insuring livestock, and with insurance in general, is ignoring or not understanding policy exclusions. It’s easy to assume that just because you have insurance or have a certain type of coverage, you are covered.

However, it’s not enough to just “have insurance.” Simply having insurance does not mean you are covered for everything. You have to have the right types of coverage, and you need to be aware of what policy exclusions may apply to your policy. For example, if you are transporting livestock or showing them at events, you may need to add or extend coverage to protect livestock while in transit or at events.

When reviewing your insurance policy and talking with your agent, make sure you know the covered losses as well as policy exclusions and documentation requirements. For any types of loss that are excluded on your current policy or not yet covered, there may be endorsements or other coverages you can add to your policy to make sure you are covered for those types of loss in the future.

Your insurance agent can help you evaluate what makes the most sense for your specific operation. If there are specific documentation requirements, your agent can also walk you through what those are and when and where they apply.

Mistake #9 – Not Consulting an Experienced Agent

Livestock operations have unique needs and unique risks that need to be addressed. Although an insurance agent who does not have experience in ag can still help you, it’s not the same as an agent with experience in insuring ag operations.

In addition to the standard risks and coverage for ag operations, there are also unique scenarios that come with working with other farmers and ranchers, transporting livestock and materials, and more. Depending on the details of your operation, these can be reasons why you need additional liability coverage for your ag operation.

An agent with ag experience knows the ins and outs of insuring ag operations. Not only do they understand all aspects of your operations better, but they can also efficiently go beyond common risks and coverage, avoid pitfalls, bring in coverage options and details that have the biggest impact on your operation, and truly customize your policy.

Mistake #10 – Not Updating Insurance Regularly

Another one of the mistakes to avoid when insuring livestock is not updating insurance regularly. Changes in your operation and changes in the value of your assets are signs you need to review your farm insurance policy, and could mean that it is necessary to update your insurance.

Sticking with the same policy for years without reviewing or making necessary changes can leave you with coverage gaps or outdated coverage. You don’t want to wait until a loss occurs to find out whether your coverage is up to date. Making sure you do a farm and ranch annual insurance review is a good standard, but you may need to review insurance more often depending on changes in your operation.

Make sure you are having conversations with your insurance agent as things change with your assets and operation. You may not always need to adjust coverage, but being proactive about it ensures you remain protected and avoid costly coverage gaps.

Get the Right Coverage For Your Livestock With Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance

Sufficiently managing risks in livestock operations is essential. Keeping these mistakes to avoid when insuring livestock in mind can help you cover many of them. Every livestock operation will have unique needs and risks to consider.

Talking with an independent insurance agent with ag experience can help you get the coverage you need for your operation. If you need to acquire coverage or want to review your current farm insurance coverage, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880.

The post 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Insuring Livestock appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

1. Consider life changes.
2. Think about ownership.
3. Create an inventory of assets.
4. Account for changes in livestock or crops.
5. Evaluate outbuildings.
6. Take note of any operational changes.
7. Consider shifts in employees or staff.
8. Take regulatory changes into account.
9. Think through some “what-if” scenarios.
10. Prepare questions for your insurance agent.
11. Schedule the review early.

1. Consider Life Changes

Although it may not be top-of-mind when you’re thinking about your farm insurance, changes in your personal life can have effects on insurance. Marriages, divorces, births, family members moving out, family members moving in, and more could all affect who needs to be considered, included, and listed on your policies.

These are all changes that mean you need to review your homeowners insurance, and the same is true for insurance for agricultural operations. Even personal purchases of high-value items are life changes that should be included in your insurance review to make sure your investments and assets are taken into account and properly protected.

2. Think About Ownership

As part of preparing for your annual insurance review, it’s also a good idea to think about the ownership of the farm property and operations. Consider the following:

• What type of proprietorship is the ag operation?
• Who is the current owner?
• Are there multiple owners?
• Has the ownership changed recently?
• Are there new key players to consider?
• Is there a succession plan in place?

Depending on the situation, you may have other business succession planning and insurance needs to consider. When it comes to estate planning, it’s also important to consider insurance implications for the ag operation.

Businesses can end up underinsured, especially during generational ownership transitions. Insufficient coverage, gaps in coverage, loss, and more can all be consequences of being underinsured during an ownership transfer. Regularly reviewing your farm and ranch insurance and taking future estate planning into account can help reduce this risk.

3. Create an Inventory of Assets

Equipment, tools, machinery, buildings, vehicles, supplies, etc. are all assets that should be accounted for with your insurance coverage. One of the most helpful tips to prepare for your farm and ranch annual insurance review is to take inventory of your current assets and make a note of any new additions or changes.

It’s also not a bad idea to take pictures to create a photo inventory of these assets to keep with other relevant records and documentation. If you have acquired new equipment or other big-ticket items, make sure you include those items.

Also, take note of any equipment that you have sold or no longer have. Just as you want to make sure your new equipment is adequately covered, you also want to make sure you aren’t carrying coverage you no longer need for items you no longer possess. These are mistakes to avoid when buying dairy farm insurance that also apply to insuring any type of ag operation.

4. Account For Changes in Livestock or Crops

Taking inventory around your farm isn’t just for physical property; it’s also for your livestock and crops. If your acreage planted or the types of crops you grow have changed, you will need to talk to your insurance agent about it. If you have cattle and your cattle count has changed since last year, you will want to talk to your insurance agent about it during your annual review.

If you have added new types of livestock to your farm, you may need to extend coverage to include them or add coverage, like livestock mortality insurance. If there are any specific high-value animals, they might need special coverage. Also, consider any plans you have in the upcoming year regarding changes to your livestock, as there may be insurance considerations associated with them.

Additionally, check your crop insurance and livestock insurance options to make sure you have coverage for all aspects of your operation. Also, check for insurance coverage that offers income protection, like loss of business income and extra expense coverage. Your insurance agent will be able to go over any insurance considerations you should be aware of regarding your current coverage, as well as any new coverage options you should consider based on changes or upcoming plans.

5. Evaluate Outbuildings

In addition to any changes to your primary residence on the property, also evaluate all outbuildings, including barns, sheds, storage buildings, etc. If any additions, renovations, or updates have been made to existing buildings, you will want to make sure those are taken into account.

Any new outbuildings should also make the list. Additionally, if the purpose of buildings has changed or you have changed the way you’re storing feed or harvested crops, you will want to make note of that as well. Depending on the nature of the changes, you may need to adjust coverage to include them on your policy.

Another consideration is that some updates could lower your risk and contribute to lower premiums. Property improvements, infrastructure upgrades, updated safety and security systems, various ways to protect livestock, and more can reduce risk.

In addition to protecting your investment, updates like these indicate responsible care and maintenance on your part as an insured while also reducing the risk of costly losses. Lower risk and other favorable factors could result in rewards that contribute to lower premiums relative to what the risk assessment might have been without those safety measures in place.

6. Take Note of Any Operational Changes

Another one of the tips to prepare for your farm and ranch annual insurance review is to take note of any operational changes your farm has gone through over the past year, as well as any you are planning to make in the coming year. If you are considering whether agritainment is right for your farm, it’s a good idea to talk to your insurance agent about it.

If you are adding new operations or business ventures, like moving into agritainment or agritourism, you will want to make sure your insurance agent is aware of those changes. Additional business operations, being open to the public, and more can all be reasons why you need additional liability coverage for your ag operation.

Plus, there are important things to do before welcoming visitors to your farm. Whenever you invite the public onto your property, there are risks associated with that. Implementing safety measures, maintaining your property, and having the right types of insurance are ways to lower your risk and protect your agritainment investment. Your insurance agent will be able to walk you through what that would look like for your specific plans.

7. Consider Shifts in Employees or Staff

It’s easy to get caught up in property, equipment, livestock, and crops when it comes to farm and ranch insurance. However, it’s also important to consider the people working for you, too. Take some time to think over the past year.

• Have there been changes to your ag operation’s employee profile?
• Have you added or reduced staff?
• Have seasonal laborers or temporary employees shifted?

In addition to workers’ compensation on your farm, there are likely other insurance considerations that need to be addressed, or at least reviewed.

8. Take Regulatory Changes Into Account

Laws and regulations change over time. Environmental and safety regulations can, and often, impact agricultural operations. If new regulations have come into effect or will be coming into effect, make sure you are taking these regulatory changes into account.

Not only can these potentially affect your insurance needs, but there may also be compliance-related coverage or availability that is affected. You will want to make sure you talk through these scenarios with your insurance agent.

9. Think Through Some “What-If” Scenarios

Insurance is a way to provide protection in case of a loss. It’s something you wish you had if you don’t have it when you need it. Often, it’s something you have that you hope you don’t have to use, and that you are glad you have if a loss does occur.

When preparing for your farm and annual insurance review, it can be helpful to consider some relevant “what-if” scenarios.

• If “x” occurred, what would happen next?
• How would your current insurance policy respond?
• Would that response be sufficient in the event of loss?

You don’t want to stress yourself out or go down an endless spiral of what could potentially happen, but working through a few scenarios relevant to your operations can assure you that you are covered for them. Or, it will at least generate some specific questions to bring up to your insurance agent about what makes sense for your ag operation.

10. Prepare Questions For Your Insurance Agent

Gathering information, financial records, and documentation is important and can help you prepare for your farm and ranch annual insurance review, but you don’t have to stop there. To get the most out of that conversation and review, take some time to review your current insurance policy declarations page and prepare questions for your insurance agent.

You will likely have some questions come up naturally as you are going through your property and operations. Write them down in a notebook, record a voice memo, take a note on your phone; whatever works for you, just have a way to record and gather those questions. Asking the right questions during an annual insurance review can help make sure you’re not underinsured, overpaying, or missing essential protections.

Your insurance agent will have their own questions for you along these lines, but coming into that conversation with some of your own ensures you get the answers you want and need.

Questions to Ask Your Agent During Your Annual Farm Insurance Review

Some potential questions to ask during an annual review can include:

• Is my farm business entity correctly listed on the policy?
• What’s my deductible?
• What is covered/not covered on the current policy?
• Are the current coverage limits sufficient?
• Are there any coverage gaps or potential emerging coverage gaps?
• Are there current endorsements I no longer need?
• Are there endorsements I need that I do not currently have?
• Do I have enough coverage for my home, barns, and other structures?
• Is all of my equipment covered?
• Is my crop insurance still right for what I grow now?
• Does my livestock have sufficient coverage?
• Do I have enough liability coverage?
• Do I have income protection against market volatility or loss?
• How would my current policy respond if “x” occurred?
• Am I eligible for available discounts or savings on the premium?
• Does making seasonal adjustments make sense for my farm?
• Have there been any changes in farm insurance regulations I need to know?
• Are there changes in available farm insurance coverage options that apply to me?
• What are things you see other farms missing that I might want to consider?

11. Schedule the Review Early

Another tip to prepare for your farm and ranch annual insurance review is to schedule it early. Waiting until right before renewal or only relying on a new year insurance review can make the process more stressful for you, and it can potentially limit your options or even leave you with gaps in your coverage while you work to update or add coverage to your policy.

By scheduling your review a month or two, or more, in advance, you and your insurance agent have plenty of time to go over everything, obtain and compare insurance quotes for any adjustments you may need, and choose the best options for your situation and operation.

Get the Farm and Ranch Insurance You Need With Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance

Different changes and updates to your farm throughout the year could create a need to review your farm insurance policy more often. Regardless, an annual review with your insurance agent is a good idea to make sure your current policy and coverage are sufficient for your farm and operations. These tips can help you prepare for your farm and ranch annual insurance review and help you get the most benefit from it.

A good insurance agent will be a valuable resource during this process. Not only will they help reduce your stress and make the whole process easier, but they will also provide personalized advice and resources that are tailored to your specific needs and situation. These are some of the benefits that come with working with an independent insurance agent.

If it’s time to review your farm and ranch insurance policy, or you have questions about your coverage in the interim, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880. We can help you review coverage options and provide the information you need to protect your ag operation.

The post 11 Tips to Prepare For Your Farm and Ranch Annual Insurance Review appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

1. Can you change plans without losing essential coverage?
2. Are you able to handle paying higher deductibles if something happens?
3. Do you risk losing discounts and incentives if you switch carriers?

1. Can You Change Plans Without Losing Essential Coverage?

It’s important to regularly review your homeowner’s insurance to make sure you have sufficient coverage and limits for your home. As things change, your insurance needs change as well, and your coverage and coverage limits may need to be adjusted to meet those changes.

Updates to your home, multi-policy credits, insurance trends, and more are all factors that affect homeowner’s insurance rates. Updating coverage may be necessary for you to sufficiently cover new additions or updates to your home and property.

Switching plans and changing coverage can be a way to lower your homeowner’s insurance costs. However, doing so can be too risky if getting cost savings means less insurance coverage when you need it or if switching plans means losing valuable multi-policy discounts or bundling incentives.

If you end up with insufficient limits, you could end up underinsured on your home, which means you won’t be covered for the full cost of repairs in the event of a claim. If you drop necessary coverage or endorsements, you may not have coverage at all for certain types of structures or perils. This leaves you open to significant loss and financial strain if your home sustains damage.

2. Are You Able to Handle Paying Higher Deductibles If Something Happens?

Another strategy people are using to lower home insurance costs is increasing deductibles on their home insurance policies. Higher deductibles can typically lower insurance premiums, but they also mean that you are opting to take on more of the financial risk yourself in the event of a claim.

With a higher deductible on a home insurance policy, a homeowner will have to pay more out-of-pocket when filing a claim before their insurance policy steps in to cover costs. Unlike deductibles in health insurance, there is also no out-of-pocket limit or maximum that a policyholder will pay in one year. The deductible a homeowner pays in the event of a claim depends on the details of their policy (you can find this information on your insurance policy declarations page), whether the deductible is standard or percentage-based, and the amount of each claim.

If you file a claim and the cost to repair exceeds the home insurance deductible, the homeowner pays the deductible, and then the insurance company covers the rest. If you file a claim and the cost to repair is within your deductible, you are responsible for the entire cost. In the case of percentage deductibles, this can result in extensive financial responsibilities for homeowners, depending on the type of claim, that cost far more than any savings gained from lowering premiums in this way.

If you are not in a position to be able to self-insure for these types of risks, then attempting to lower your homeowner’s insurance costs in this way is too risky. Before making any risky moves that you may regret later, talk to your insurance agent. There may be other discounts for personal lines available, or home improvement projects you can do to lower your risk as an insured and lower your home insurance costs.

3. Do You Risk Losing Discounts and Incentives If You Switch Carriers?

Attempting to switch insurance carriers is another method people use to lower insurance costs. Although this may have worked well in the past, it can be too risky in current landscapes. More severe weather, higher risks, and more have all caused corresponding insurance trends like more underwriting restrictions, more limited monoline policies, and more.

Not only can this mean that you may not be able to get a quote unless you are bundling multiple policies, but it can also mean that you limit the discounts and incentives you do have available. In addition, a history of switching carriers can also carry the risk of making you seem like a riskier insured, which can also affect the options available to you.

Switching insurance providers can still make sense in some cases, but it is not a straightforward strategy that works for everyone. When is lowering your homeowner’s insurance costs too risky in this case? If you will be losing out on valuable discounts or unable to get the coverage you need through a new carrier, it’s likely too risky to try to lower costs via switching insurers. It’s important that you realistically evaluate the potential benefits and potential risks for your specific situation before deciding on this route. Your insurance agent can help you navigate the risks associated and work through the pros and cons to help you make the best decision for you.

Make Sure You Have Sufficient Homeowner’s Insurance Coverage

When evaluating your insurance costs and ways to lower them, it’s important to consider the consequences and risks. With home insurance policies, it’s important to ask, “When is lowering your homeowner’s insurance costs too risky?”

You can reduce costs by reducing coverage or opting for higher deductibles, provided you have the means to self-insure for the coverage you are forgoing. There may also be other ways to lower homeowner’s insurance via available discounts or incentives. If you are concerned about insurance costs and have questions about whether certain types of coverages, additional endorsements, limits or deductibles, and more are still what you need, talk to your insurance agent.

They’ll be able to evaluate your current coverage within the context of your specific situation and offer guidance based on your needs and goals. These types of personalized advice and insights are some of the biggest benefits of working with an independent insurance agent. If you have questions about your current insurance coverage, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880.

The post When Is Lowering Your Homeowner’s Insurance Costs Too Risky? appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

1. Regularly check and update your fences.
2. Implement warning systems.
3. Provide housing for your livestock.
4. Practice good animal husbandry and biosecurity.
5. Pair complementary grazers together.
6. Make use of guardian animals.
7. Ensure you have the right insurance coverage.

1. Regularly Check and Update Your Fences

Fences work to both contain your livestock to your property and prevent unauthorized entry. Good, strong fencing around your fields can help prevent predators and trespassers from accessing your livestock.

Fences aren’t perfect, but they certainly help protect your livestock better than not having them at all. You can also explore supplemental fencing solutions to create better barriers or to startle predators:

• Using mesh wire electric fencing
• Planting living fences
• Putting up scarecrows
• Hanging flags or strips of fabric on fences
• Playing music or conversation on radios/speakers to mimic human noise
• Adding reflectors to overhead mesh or netting
• Using motion-activated lights and alarms around the property perimeter

The right fencing and enhancements can help deter ground and aerial predators while protecting your livestock. There may even be additional benefits to certain types of barriers and enhancements. For example, living fences can act as a barrier to predators and also act as windbreaks. They can help prevent soil erosion on your property, too.

Whatever fencing and supplemental protections you have in place, make sure to regularly check in on them to repair damage or update components. This reduces the risk of livestock escape or predator trespass through broken fencing and ensures your fences and fencing solutions are working as they should to keep your livestock secure and safe on your property.

2. Implement Warning Systems

On top of solid fencing solutions and enhancements, you can also implement warning systems to help startle and ward off predators. Motion-activated alarms are common and useful. Simple additions like motion-activated spotlights or floodlights can scare off predators while also providing you with a visual warning.

If you’re in an area where predators, trespassers, etc. are frequent risks to your livestock, you can also implement security cameras for video monitoring and surveillance. Similar to how guardian dogs, llamas, or donkeys can help protect livestock and also “sound the alarm” at signs of danger, roosters can also be good options for additional auditory warnings.

3. Provide Housing For Your Livestock

Providing safe, secure housing for your livestock offers weather protection for them and gives them a safe place to be at night. Since most predators are nocturnal, housing your animals at night can go a long way in reducing the risk of predators. Even just moving livestock further into your property or a higher-security area at night can reduce the risk of nocturnal attacks.

All of these things can help protect your livestock. If you’re adding new buildings or making other new additions, make some time to talk to your insurance agent and review your farm insurance policy. You may need to increase limits or add coverage to make sure you have sufficient coverage on your new buildings.

4. Practice Good Animal Husbandry and Biosecurity

Maintaining a clean and dry environment for your livestock can help reduce injury and reduce the risk of disease. Additionally, solid biosecurity protocols prevent the introduction of infection into your herds or flocks. At the same time, should an infection occur, good biosecurity protocols and cleanliness standards can help reduce the spread and prevent outbreaks.

5. Pair Complementary Grazers Together

If you have multiple types of livestock on your farm, especially multiple types of grazing animals, you can pair them to graze together. In a way, this helps create a sort of “buddy system” in your fields.

Not only can the larger herd deter predators, but the difference in size, if there is one, can also add a layer of protection. For example, cows and goats are common complementary grazers. In this pairing, the size of the cows can act as a deterrent for predators that would normally target smaller prey, like the goats.

6. Make Use of Guardian Animals

Guardian animals can help protect your livestock and enhance their health. Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs), donkeys, and llamas are the most common guardian animals. The best fit for your farm will depend on various factors, including the livestock you keep, the layout of your farm, the common predators you’re looking for protection against, and more.

In addition to helping to protect your livestock from predators, guardian animals can also help reduce and relieve stress within your herds. In this way, guardian animals can help enhance both the health and safety of your herds.

7. Ensure You Have the Right Insurance Coverage

In addition to making sure you have the right insurance, and enough of it, for your farm property and operations, you also need to make sure your livestock are fully covered and that you have any and all endorsements you need to enhance your coverage where needed. Regularly reviewing your farm and ranch insurance coverage with your insurance agent can help make sure you have the coverage you need.

Livestock Mortality Insurance, Livestock Risk Protection (LRP), and more are all useful insurance products to help protect and insure your livestock. Depending on how your livestock fits into your farm operations, you may also need to explore coverages like Equine Liability Insurance, Equine Mortality with an Equine Major Medical add-on, Stallion Infertility Insurance, etc.

Having a conversation with your insurance agent is a good idea. They can work through the details of your livestock, operations, and property to identify the types of coverage, sufficient limits, and any relevant endorsements you may need. This type of consultative approach, personalized advice, individualized coverage comparisons, and more are all benefits of working with an independent insurance agent.

Get the Farm Insurance You Need With Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance

From farm upgrades to insurance options, these are just a few ways to protect livestock. If you need to review or update your farm insurance, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880. We can help make sure your livestock is properly protected on your insurance policy.

The post 7 Ways to Protect Livestock appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

1. You share resources with other farmers.
2. You have employees and/or work with custom operators.
3. Your ag operation requires the use or transport of chemicals and/or manure.
4. You prepare and sell food products direct-to-market.
5. Your ag operation is open to the public.
6. You use your property for additional business operations.

1. You Share Resources With Other Farmers

Farming communities are often close-knit, especially in areas where you have several legacy family farms in an area. Particularly in these areas, neighboring and nearby farms will often work together. This is also often one of the reasons farmers renting land need farm insurance coverage. Perhaps a neighboring ranch pays you for the use of a field to raise livestock? Or maybe you have equipment your neighbors don’t need in their day-to-day operations, and they hire you seasonally to bring that equipment to their property and complete mechanical operations?

These types of relationships are a common way to pool resources in a farming community in valuable and helpful ways. However, these activities are also additional business operations; contract feeding/custom feeding and contract farming/custom farming, respectively. In both of these situations, you would likely need to require additional business liability coverage, like Care, Custody, and Control Insurance (CCC) or other special coverages.

2. You Have Employees and/or Work With Custom Operators

One of the most common reasons ag operations need additional liability coverage is employees or hired operators. In addition to creating and maintaining a safe working environment, you will need to obtain workers’ compensation insurance for the farm, and there may be other coverages to consider depending on your operations and situation.

In some cases, a standard farm workers’ compensation policy will be enough. In other cases, there may be other things to consider. Because there is so much involved with ag operations and each one is unique, farm and ranch work is known to create unique situations with workers’ comp as well. Independent contractors and custom operators are just some of the unique workers’ compensation scenarios around the farm that your insurance coverage may need to address.

There are also things to consider when managing youthful employees and operators on the farm, even when they are family. It’s common on family farms for younger family members to be helping out. In farming communities, local farms can be great job opportunities for minors to learn valuable ag skills and gain experience.

In any of these cases, there will be additional considerations for creating policies, standards for operations, insurance, and more because the person doing the work is a minor. Your best bet is to discuss details with your insurance agent so you can rest assured that you are not missing any necessary coverage for a specific situation.

3. Your Ag Operation Requires the Use or Transport of Chemicals and/or Manure

Animal waste, like manure, and chemicals, like pesticides and fertilizers, are necessary materials for agriculture. In addition to growing and managing crop yield and health, these are also important for responsible pest management in the food chain.

Even with careful regulations and standards when transporting and using these materials, accidents can still happen. Containment measures can become damaged or rupture, application issues can arise, storms can result in unforeseen consequences, and more.

These are all reasons your ag operation may need additional liability coverage. In addition to potentially higher-than-standard limits, these are also reasons why modern farmers need pollution liability coverage. If something were to occur, these coverages may be able to step in and assist with the financial ramifications of an event and prevent devastation to your ag operation.

4. You Prepare and Sell Food Products Direct-to-Market

Whether you have a small roadside stand, a dedicated store or shop building on your property, or take your products to a farmer’s market, your ag operation is now engaged in preparing and selling food products directly to the public. This adds direct-to-market or direct farm marketing as an additional business operation. And, there are liability exposures for various aspects for which you may need additional liability coverage to remain insured and protected.

Depending on what you are selling, how, and where, there may also be other coverages you need to consider. You will also want to talk to your insurance agent to make sure you have product liability insurance. This coverage is usually included in general liability policies, but you will want to verify that it is, that the limits are sufficient for your needs, and determine whether you also need to add umbrella liability or increase your current umbrella liability limits. Underestimating liability limits is one of the mistakes to avoid when buying dairy farm insurance, and it applies to other ag operations as well.

Whether it’s protecting products during transport, making updates on your property to make it safer for public access, and more, there are things you will want to address to lower risk, avoid frivolous liability claims, and make sure your insurance is offering sufficient coverage for your needs. An insurance agent with ag experience can be an invaluable resource to help identify these opportunities for your ag operation and help navigate the next steps.

5. Your Ag Operation is Open to the Public

Many farmers and ranchers expand their ag operations to offer activities that are open to the public. U-pick, or pick-your-own, offerings, hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, farm tours, and more are all ways to open your ag operation to the public and welcome them onto your property, provided agritainment is right for your farm.

This turns a farm, vineyard, orchard, etc. into an agritainment, or agritourism, operation. It also adds additional business operations, as well as liabilities and risks that your insurance coverage needs to address. There are differences between an Agribusiness policy and a Farmowners policy.

New additions or new business operations are key signs you need to review your farm insurance policy. In some cases, you may be able to adjust your current policy to accommodate the new additions, while you may need to upgrade to a more robust agribusiness insurance policy in other cases. There will also be a number of things to do before welcoming visitors to your farm.

A conversation with your insurance agent can be invaluable for determining what makes the most sense for your situation and operations. In addition to making sure you have the right insurance in place for your agritainment operations, they can also offer insights on other ways to help lower your risk and protect your agritainment investment.

6. You Use Your Property For Additional Business Operations

Outside of agritainment-type attractions and activities, you may also use your ag operation to run additional business operations. Some farmers repurpose their structures for events, which often requires additional insurance. This is a key insurance consideration for barn weddings, and anything that turns a building on your property into an event venue.

Another example is if you have a horse ranch, you might also rent out stable space, offer horseback riding lessons, breed horses, etc. These are all other business operations that have their own risks and considerations for various types of insurance coverage and liability coverage. When offering lessons on your property, for example, you may need to explore specific coverage, like equine professional liability.

Even something like selling firewood on your property is considered a business venture and could leave you exposed if there are coverages you need, and you do not have them when a claim arises. It’s important to discuss all aspects of your ag operation when you review your farm and ranch insurance with your insurance agent to make sure your insurance coverage is properly and sufficiently covering your ag operation and any side businesses you may run.

Make Sure Your Ag Operation is Properly Insured With Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance

These are just a few reasons why you need additional liability coverage for your ag operation. Because every operation is different and will have unique characteristics and risks that farm and ranch insurance needs to address, it’s a good idea to talk to an insurance agent.

They can help make sure that you have the right types of farm insurance coverage and the appropriate limits to protect your livelihood in the event of damage or a loss. This type of individualized attention and information is one of the big benefits of working with an independent insurance agent, especially one who has in-depth ag experience.

The right types of insurance are essential ways to protect your livestock, your ag operation, and your investment. If you have questions about insurance for your ag operation, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880. We can help you make sure your ag operation is properly insured and protected.

The post Why You Need Additional Liability Coverage For Your Ag Operation appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

Why is My Homeowner’s Insurance Coverage Higher Than the “Value” of My Home?

Your homeowner’s insurance coverage could be higher or lower than the market value of your home, depending on several factors. If your coverage is higher than the market value of your home, it is because your homeowner’s insurance is based on the replacement cost and not the market value. In simple terms, your homeowner’s insurance coverage is based on the cost to rebuild the home and not how much it would sell for on the market.

4 Types of Home Values

When determining the value of your home, there are several different things that come into play, but not all of those home values are used when determining the value of your home for insurance coverage. Here are some of the types of home values:

1. Assessed Value
2. Appraised Value
3. Market Value
4. Replacement Cost

1. Assessed Value

The assessed value of a home is used only for property tax collection purposes and is determined by the tax assessor. Factors affecting the assessed value of your home could include replacement cost, land value, selling prices for similar homes in your area, and more.

2. Appraised Value

The appraised value is primarily used by mortgage lenders when determining approval of a loan application.

3. Market Value

The market value of a home is used by real estate agents to price a home for the purpose of selling it on the open market. Factors affecting market value can include land value, square footage of your home, condition of your home, amenities in your home and your local area, selling prices for similar homes in your area, and more.

4. Replacement Cost

The rated value that we see most often in the insurance industry is replacement cost. Replacement cost is the amount of money that it will take to rebuild your home in the same spot, of the same size and quality of construction, at today’s construction and material costs.

Replacement Cost vs Market Value in Home Insurance

Here’s what to know about market value and replacement cost in the context of homeowner’s insurance:

Market Value

The market value of your home refers to the amount buyers would be willing to pay for your house in the current real estate market. The market value of your home can fluctuate and depends heavily on the state of the housing market, your location, the selling prices of similar homes in your area, specific details of your home in particular, etc.

The market value of your home is unlikely to be the same as what it would cost to rebuild your home from the ground up in the same area. Even if you were able to find an insurer who would offer a policy with coverage based on market value, insuring your home based on market value practically guarantees that you are underinsured in many cases or paying too much for coverage in some cases.

Replacement Cost

When evaluating the value of a home for insurance purposes, replacement cost is how much it would take to repair or rebuild the home in the event of a claim or loss at the current cost of materials and construction.

For example, you could have two identical homes located in two very different geographical areas. The first is located in a thriving suburb, while the second is in a rural area. Their market values would be very different, but the cost to rebuild and replace the homes would be relatively the same.

Provided you have replacement cost coverage and the appropriate limits, your insurer will reimburse you up to your coverage limits for the cost of rebuilding or repairing your home using similar types and quality of materials. This is what it means to insure to value for your home. Most insurance companies require that a home be insured for 100% replacement cost.

However, depreciation is NOT taken into consideration. The cost of materials and labor fluctuates and can create gaps in your insurance coverage if your policy isn’t keeping up. If building materials and costs increase beyond your policy limits and you no longer meet the requirements on the building limit on the policy, you could end up underinsured. This is a serious risk when it comes to building costs and insurance protection.

It’s important to regularly review your homeowner’s insurance and make sure you are increasing your limits if needed to make sure your policy is equipped to reimburse you fully in the event of a loss. This is also why it’s important to review and update your insurance policy when you’ve done work or added to your home. These are home changes that can affect homeowner’s insurance, and you want to make sure that your new additions are accounted for and protected.

Unless you wish to self-insure and absorb the financial risk yourself, you should make sure your home is insured for 100% of its replacement cost. Talk to your insurance agent to make sure you understand what your homeowner’s insurance does and does not cover and whether you need to adjust limits or add coverage. You can also talk to your insurance agent about additional endorsements, like extended or guaranteed replacement cost, to see if they make sense for you.

Insure Your Home With Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance

Regardless of market trends and insurance trends, remember that the purpose of an insurance policy is to protect your assets in the event of a catastrophic loss. When thinking about replacement cost vs market value in home insurance, this is the reason that you want your home, your greatest asset, to be insured for replacement cost and not just the market value.

Be sure to check with your agent to ensure that you are properly covered. For more information about homeowner’s insurance or to review your current policy, call Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 1-800-537-6880.

The post Replacement Cost vs Market Value in Home Insurance: Why is My Homeowner’s Insurance Coverage Higher Than the “Value” of My Home? appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

Do I Need Insurance For a Car That’s in Storage?

Laws on whether you need auto insurance for a car in storage will vary from state to state. It may also depend on whether the registration is current and active, whether the car even drives on public roads, and how much risk you are willing to take on yourself in the event of damage or loss.

Do You Need Insurance For Cars in Storage in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, currently registered vehicles must have some sort of insurance (financial responsibility). Even if the car is in storage and does not drive on public roads, it needs to be insured if it is currently registered.

However, if the car will remain in storage for an extended period of time and will not be driven on public roads, you can surrender the registration to the DMV. In this case, you are not legally required to have insurance for that vehicle. It’s recommended that registration plates are surrendered to PennDOT any time insurance is not in effect.

You May Still Need Insurance Protection Even If It Is Not Legally Required

Although you technically don’t legally need insurance for a car in storage in Pennsylvania if it does not have an active registration, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t need insurance for it. After all, even a car that is in storage and is not driven on public roads can be susceptible to damage or loss.

If you don’t want to self-insure and risk having to handle anything that happens completely out of pocket, then having some insurance coverage that can help in the event of damage or loss is a good idea. Your insurance agent can help you navigate the details and determine what types of coverage make the most sense for your situation.

7 Insurance Considerations For Cars in Storage

Insurance can be nuanced. Some coverage may not be necessary for your specific situation while other types of coverage may be highly recommended, and every state can be different. Talking with your insurance agent is the best place to start. In general, here are some important insurance considerations for cars in storage:

1. Damage and loss can occur in storage, too.
2. Vehicles in storage can be stolen.
3. You need the right type of insurance for vehicles in storage.
4. You may not be permitted to cancel coverage.
5. There may be specific forms required by the DMV.
6. It may make more sense to maintain your current policy through the storage period.
7. Make sure coverage is fully restored before the vehicle returns to the road.

1. Damage and Loss Can Occur in Storage, Too

Vehicles in storage may be less at risk for road accidents, but that doesn’t mean that they are protected from other types of damage or loss. If a vehicle in storage is damaged, whether by weather events, vandalism, or something else, and it is uninsured, you will be entirely responsible for expenses as a result of that loss. Like insuring other high-value assets, having the right insurance coverage in place can help protect your investment against these types of threats.

2. Vehicles in Storage Can Be Stolen

Another consideration for insurance when it comes to cars in storage is theft. In addition to damage and potential total loss, stolen vehicles can also create other liability risks. When you have the right insurance coverage, you are generally not held responsible for damage caused by someone who steals your vehicle, and insurance usually steps in to help cover your losses. Without insurance, your financial responsibilities may extend beyond just the damage to or loss of your stolen vehicle.

3. You Need the Right Type of Insurance For Vehicles in Storage

There isn’t technically a specific and dedicated “vehicle storage insurance”. Coverage for vehicles in storage usually consists of various lines within auto insurance. Your insurance agent can help you get the right mix of coverage and limits that you need, as it may vary depending on your state, your situation, and your insurer.

Comprehensive Coverage Offers Protection For Vehicles in Storage

In general, comprehensive auto insurance will protect a vehicle in storage against damage that could occur while parked on your property. Comprehensive car insurance usually covers things like tree damage and weather-related damage, and provides protection if your vehicle is vandalized or stolen.

You May Be Able to Drop Collision Coverage For a Vehicle in Storage

Many insurance carriers tend to offer comprehensive and collision coverage together on an auto insurance policy. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to drop collision and keep comprehensive coverage for a car that is in storage, while in other cases, you may not be able to have one without the other. Your insurance agent will be able to walk you through your current policy and options.

There May Be Other Necessary Coverages For Storage Locations Outside of Your Property

If your vehicle will be stored in another location, you will want to talk to your insurance agent to ensure that your vehicle is fully protected through your own insurance and whatever insurance related to the storage location that may apply to your vehicle while it is on that property.

4. You May Not Be Permitted to Cancel Coverage

If there is a loan on the vehicle in storage, you may not be permitted to drop coverage on it. In the case of an auto loan, your lender may require insurance coverage on that asset as a requirement on your loan. If this is the case, you will need to make sure that any changes you make do not violate policy requirements or your loan agreement.

5. There May Be Specific Forms Required By the DMV

If you are planning to cancel the registration and insurance on a vehicle that will be in storage, there may be specific forms that you have to file with them before you do so. In addition to conversations with your insurance agent, make sure you are aware of everything your state’s DMV requires you to do for a vehicle in storage. Also, depending on your state, your DMV may also have specific instructions related to bringing a car back out of storage and re-registering it.

6. It May Make More Sense to Maintain Your Current Policy Through the Storage Period

Another insurance consideration for a vehicle in storage is whether it makes more sense to keep the current policy, adjust it, or cancel it. Canceling the policy creates gaps in coverage, which can increase your risk as an insured, and this can have consequences when shopping for car insurance.

There is a chance that, if you cancel insurance for a vehicle in storage, you may pay higher premiums for new coverage you purchase for the vehicle in the future. Also, you may not be eligible for certain discounts for personal lines from which you currently benefit, even if your new policy is through the same insurer.

If your plan is to only keep the vehicle in storage for a few months, it may be better to simply maintain your current policy through the short-term storage period or temporarily reduce coverage on your policy. Your insurer may also allow you to temporarily suspend your car insurance, which could be another option if you are only planning to have your vehicle in storage for a short time.

This can be a good solution for college students who are not taking a car with them. Making sure car insurance is updated, whether a student will be taking a car to another state for the semester or leaving it at home, is one of the helpful insurance tips for college students.

7. Make Sure Coverage is Fully Restored Before the Vehicle Returns to the Road

Whenever you start the process of bringing a vehicle out of storage, make sure you have the right insurance coverage in place before the vehicle returns to the road. In addition to reactivating registration, if you previously surrendered it to the DMV, you will also need to reinstate or update your insurance coverage.

If you ended up canceling your car insurance entirely, you’ll need to get insurance in place to protect your vehicle on the road. If you reduced your coverage, you will want to make sure you add back whatever coverage you need so you are not leaving yourself uninsured or underinsured out on the road.

For example, if you were able to drop collision coverage while keeping comprehensive coverage, it’s a good idea to make sure you have collision coverage added back to your policy before risking an accident. One of the car insurance myths is that comprehensive coverage is complete protection. In the case of an accident, you will need collision coverage, or physical damage, on your policy to cover damage to your vehicle caused by the collision.

Or, if you reduced coverage to the minimum limits, you’ll want to make sure your policy limits are sufficient for your needs before taking your vehicle out of storage. These are things to consider when customizing your car insurance policy and are all things you will need to revisit and potentially replace when re-insuring or updating insurance for a vehicle that has been in storage.

Make Sure Your Vehicles Are Covered With Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance

Insurance can be complex and nuanced. It can be difficult to navigate on your own and be confident that you have the coverage you need, and enough of it. Personalized advice, guidance, and expertise are some benefits of working with an independent insurance broker.

They can work with you, ask the right questions, obtain insurance proposals that meet your needs on your behalf, and help you pick the best insurance quote to make sure your insurance coverage meets your needs sufficiently. If you need insurance for a car in storage or need to update insurance for any of your vehicles, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880.

The post Do I Need Insurance For a Car That’s in Storage? appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

1. Red cars cost more to insure.
2. Comprehensive coverage is complete protection.
3. Shopping your car insurance every year is the way to get the best rate.
4. State minimum limits of liability coverage are enough.
5. Older drivers pay higher premiums.
6. Insurance rates are not affected by credit scores.
7. Someone else’s insurance covers your car if they are driving it.
8. Your personal auto policy covers your vehicle for business use.
9. A ticket or an accident automatically increases your premiums.
10. Military members pay more for car insurance than civilians.
11. Your car insurance always covers a rental car.
12. You don’t need to worry about car payments if your car is totaled.
13. Your car has to be demolished to be totaled.
14. Auto insurance covers personal property in the car.

Myth #1 – Red Cars Cost More to Insure

One of the most common car insurance myths is that the color of your car affects your rates. It’s difficult to say exactly where this myth got started or how it got any momentum. But, to put it plainly, the color of your car does not affect your insurance rates. Perhaps this false notion was tied to the idea that police officers target red vehicles at a disproportionate rate for traffic infractions such as speeding?

While it is true that your driving record, in terms of violations or at-fault accidents, affects your rates when receiving an insurance quote, the color of your car doesn’t matter. The make, model, body type, cost, actual cash value, engine size, and more of the car may be taken into account, but the color is not. If you have a perfect record and drive a red vehicle, and someone driving the same model in blue has three speeding violations and an at-fault accident on their record, their quoted rate will be higher than yours, all other things being equal.

Myth #2 – Comprehensive Coverage is Complete Protection

One of the car insurance myths that can leave you uninsured or underinsured if you believe it is that comprehensive coverage covers everything. This isn’t true. The term “full coverage” on a car insurance policy references the presence of both Comprehensive and Collision auto coverage on the policy declarations page.

Comprehensive Alone Does Not Include Damage From Collision

While it is true that Comprehensive coverage offers protection for a wider variety of causes of loss, such as falling objects, animal collisions, fire, water damage, etc., it does not provide you with protection for damage that your vehicle sustains in a collision. This is why it is important to evaluate and ensure you have both Comprehensive and Collision auto coverage on your policy.

If you are in an accident with your vehicle, aside from contacting an animal, you will need to have Collision, or Physical Damage, coverage on your policy in order to receive a payment from your insurance carrier for the cost of repairing the damage to your car.

You Can’t Guarantee Someone Else Will Have Sufficient Coverage

If someone else is at fault in the accident and strikes your vehicle with theirs, you may be able to collect payment for the damage to your vehicle from their policy’s property damage liability. Of course, that is assuming the other party indeed has an active insurance policy, or a high enough property damage liability limit to cover the extent of the damages your car sustained in the accident.

In No-Fault states, all you may be able to collect from their policy is the cost of your Collision Coverage deductible, with the remainder of the claim payment coming from your own policy. In this scenario, if you only have Comprehensive coverage on your policy in this scenario, you could be looking at an unpaid claim. This is something to consider when evaluating uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Low-Value Vehicles May Not Need Collision Protection

For lower-value or older vehicles, it could be a good choice to only purchase Comprehensive coverage for your vehicle or to remove Physical Damage coverage from an existing policy if the vehicle value is so low that it doesn’t make sense to spend several hundred dollars per year to purchase collision coverage.

This decision should be made on a case-by-case basis when customizing your car insurance policy and with the assistance of a trusted independent agent, so you can properly weigh the options and determine the cost-effectiveness of the Collision coverage against your vehicle’s actual cash value.

Myth #3 – Shopping Your Car Insurance Every Year is the Way to Get the Best Rate

There are prime times to consider shopping for car insurance. But, contrary to popular belief, it isn’t always in your best interest to shop for new car insurance every year. While it is a good idea to periodically ask your independent agent to check the market and ensure that you are getting the best rate and coverage combination, shopping your insurance every single year can have unintended consequences.

There May Be Fewer Monoline Options Available

With tighter underwriting restrictions across several types of policies, higher risks, and more, insurance trends are moving more toward bundling policies and limiting monoline policies. For some insurers, they may no longer offer monoline, or single-line, policies to new insureds. In this case, you may only be able to get an insurance proposal for bundled policies. This could limit how much you can “shop around” for car insurance.

You Could Forfeit Loyalty Discounts

Insurance companies often reward loyalty through discounts that are available to insureds who have held a policy with them for a certain period of time. This is one of the common discounts for personal lines policies. If you are constantly moving from company to company, you may never be able to take advantage of loyalty discounts that end up saving you money over time.

You May Become Ineligible For Claim-Free Discounts

Some companies may also add a loss-free discount after a certain number of years if the customer has been insured with them and remained claim-free. This may or may not be available to new insureds. So, in some cases, you might have to be insured with the same company for a few years before this discount applies.

There Could Be a Risk of Non-Renewal

Insurance companies also reward loyalty by looking at the duration of their business relationship with you over time and how profitable it has been. If you have been with an insurance company for quite some time and have your first claim, it is much less likely that they will issue a non-renewal at the conclusion of your policy term.

There are a few things you need to get a personal auto quote quickly, easily, and accurately. But if you find yourself with a notice of non-renewal after a claim, it can limit your options when shopping for new coverage and also make that new coverage more expensive in some circumstances. Insurance companies appreciate customer loyalty and most often choose to reward it by maintaining a policy on their books even after a costly claim that may have “wiped out” years of profitability from your account.

Myth #4 – State Minimum Limits of Liability Coverage Are Enough

Insurance customers buying auto insurance know that it is a required purchase they must make in order to drive legally, or in some states, in order to get their vehicle inspected for the year. Sometimes customers just want the “cheapest” insurance they can find. And, to lower costs, they opt to purchase their state’s minimum limits of liability insurance in order to be able to drive legally. But, are state minimum limits enough?

Simply put, in almost every case, state minimum limits do not provide an adequate amount of liability insurance. This makes assuming state minimum limits are enough one of the common car insurance myths. It is important to remember that just because you have the legal limits of insurance, it doesn’t mean you can’t be sued for damages that exceed what your insurance policy pays to a third party that brings a liability claim against you after an accident that was your fault.

For example, in the state of Pennsylvania, the minimum legal limits on a “split limit” policy are $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $5,000 per accident for property damage liability and for medical benefits. Aside from the obvious inadequacy of these limits in terms of bodily injury liability, given the rising costs of medical treatment, $5,000 of property damage liability often does not even cover the bumper damage to a newer model car in a fender bender.

If you are driving on the state minimum limits of liability insurance, you will be “legal”. But, it does not mean you won’t be looking at paying large sums of money, out-of-pocket, if you are at fault in an accident. If this occurs, you will be looking at a much higher cost than simply a few extra dollars of insurance premium to purchase more substantial liability limits on your car insurance policy.

Myth #5 – Older Drivers Pay Higher Premiums

One of the car insurance myths is that older drivers pay higher premiums. Although some older drivers may pay higher premiums depending on the coverages and limits on their policies, or due to infractions on their driving records, the higher premium isn’t because of their age.

In many cases, older drivers are eligible for special discounts. For drivers who have been insured since they were teenagers, they may have received a discount once they turned 25. The AARP, AAA, and other state or local agencies may offer an accident prevention course available to insureds 55 or older.

Completing this course, association memberships, etc. can provide a reduction in premiums for these drivers. At the same time, if an older driver drives less, they may be considered a lower-risk driver than someone who drives a lot more and may see lower premiums as a result.

Myth #6 – Insurance Rates Are Not Affected By Credit Scores

Insurance is all about managing risk, and you do have a credit-based insurance score. This is a score that is based on your credit score and credit history. Although it may not be used in every case, it can be a factor that is taken into consideration and may have an effect on your insurance rates.

In general, good credit scores are indicators of financial responsibility, and they have been correlated with how likely someone is to file a claim. Often, a good credit score and credit history mean a better credit-based insurance score and can mean paying less for insurance.

Myth #7 – Someone Else’s Insurance Covers Your Car If They Are Driving It

Although state laws and policies vary, you cannot rely on someone else’s insurance to cover damages to your car if they are driving it. In most states, the primary insurance for a car is the policy that is covering that car, not just the driver. In most cases, it is the car owner’s policy that must pay for damages in an accident, no matter who was driving.

There is a chance that you could attempt legal action to have the other driver take responsibility for the damage they caused to your car and the costs incurred, in which case their liability coverage may come into play. However, this is a separate avenue that you could take, which is often a lengthy and expensive process, and may not result in what you expect. In the meantime, you would still have to rely on your policy to repair or replace your car and deal with any costs associated with that yourself.

Myth #8 – Your Personal Auto Policy Covers Your Vehicle For Business Use

One of the car insurance myths is that your personal auto insurance covers you for any use of your vehicle. If you are using a personal vehicle for business purposes, a personal auto policy may not be enough to protect you. The right auto insurance policy type depends on the type of vehicle, how it is titled, and how it is used.

Depending on your situation and use case, a business auto policy might be a better fit for your needs. At the same time, there may be specific endorsements you need to add to ensure you don’t have first-party benefit gaps or are lacking necessary coverage in other areas. If you are self-employed or use your personally-titled vehicle for business, it’s important to talk to your insurance agent to make sure you have the right auto policy and all the coverage you need.

Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance

There is also a risk of a claim being denied in situations where employees are using personal vehicles or rented vehicles for business use. In the case of an employee using a vehicle not owned by a company for business purposes for that company, you can’t rely on their personal policy or a standard business auto policy to cover them. This exposes that company to risk. In those cases, the company would need to have hired and non-owned auto insurance.

Rideshare Insurance

Another consideration when it comes to personal auto insurance and business use cases is ridesharing. If you are a driver for Lyft, Uber, or another rideshare business, there can be gaps between when your personal auto policy is in effect and when the rideshare company coverage comes into effect.

Specifically, the time between turning on the rideshare app to become an active driver and receiving a ride request can be a transition area. Coverage also depends on the rideshare company and the coverage they offer.

Without the right coverage on your policy to cover this period of business use before rideshare company coverage would kick in, you could find yourself uninsured for any damage that occurs. A rideshare gap endorsement could ensure you have the protection you need.

Myth #9 – A Ticket or an Accident Automatically Increases Your Premiums

A single incident automatically increasing your insurance is one of the common car insurance myths. Although a speeding ticket or an accident can increase your premiums, it does not necessarily automatically increase them. Many insurers reward drivers for loyalty, clean driving records, and remaining claim-free.

If you have been with an insurer for a while, have a clean driving record, and haven’t had a claim on your account, your insurance rates may not increase. Some insurers offer “accident forgiveness,” which operates on this principle. If it’s a first infraction or if you need to remove marks on your driving record, you can sometimes do so with state-approved safe driving courses.

That being said, if you do not have a clean driving record, another ticket or accident is likely to increase your rates. Multiple tickets or accidents within a certain time period make you a higher-risk insured, and higher risk often means higher rates.

Myth #10 – Military Members Pay More For Car Insurance Than Civilians

In many cases, active military members are eligible for military discounts with several insurers, provided they have clean driving records. With proper documentation, military members often qualify for car insurance discounts.

Additionally, active military members may have access to exclusive insurers and policies. Some insurers may also extend benefits and discounts to veterans, family members of veterans, dependents of active military, and other family members of active military. For active military personnel who are deployed away from home or overseas, they may need to put vehicles in storage.

Although there should be insurance for a car that’s in storage and won’t be driven, active military members may be able to work with their insurance company to reduce coverage or pause certain types of coverage while they are deployed and the car is not being driven. This could mean lower rates during deployment and, paired with other military discounts, could be lower than rates for a civilian with a car in storage.

Myth #11 – Your Car Insurance Always Covers a Rental Car

One of the common car insurance myths is that your car insurance always covers rental cars. Although many personal auto policies often have coverage for rental cars, you need to make sure it is included on your auto policy. It may be an optional coverage that has to be purchased separately. In some cases, you may need to select to add rental reimbursement coverage to your policy.

It’s important to know what coverage you have related to rental cars on your policy to ensure you are also covered for any damage should you get into an accident in a rental vehicle. This will affect whether you need rental car insurance in addition to your auto policy.

Myth #12 – You Don’t Need to Worry About Car Payments If Your Car is Totaled

Cars are assets, and if you still owe on it, that asset is technically owned by the lienholder. Although you may get a reimbursement from the insurance company for the totaled vehicle, there isn’t a guarantee that it will cover what is left on your loan. If you still owe a balance on the auto loan after any reimbursements are processed, you are still responsible for making those payments.

Cars depreciate in value quickly. This can result in gaps between what the car is worth and what you still owe on it. If this is the case when you are taking out an auto loan to purchase a car, it is best to also invest in loan/lease gap coverage on your auto insurance policy for the new car. In the event your car is totaled, gap insurance ensures that the balance of your car loan is covered.

Myth #13 – Your Car Has to Be Demolished to Be Totaled

Although cars that sustain enough damage to be “demolished” are totaled and considered a total loss by insurance companies, damage does not have to reach that point for a vehicle to be considered a total loss. What matters is the value of the vehicle and the estimated cost to repair the damage when an insurance company is evaluating whether it is practical to repair the car or declare it a total loss.

Regardless of what the damage looks like, if the cost to repair it is more than the value of the vehicle, it will likely be totaled. At this point, you would have the option to either take the total loss and whatever reimbursement that comes that is determined by your policy or you could choose to forgo it and repair the vehicle out of pocket.

Myth #14 – Auto Insurance Covers Personal Property in the Car

Another one of the common car insurance myths is that auto insurance covers personal property in the car. It’s important not to leave valuables in your vehicle. Should personal property in your vehicle be stolen from it or damaged in an accident, your auto insurance policy generally does not cover it. A homeowner’s policy or renter’s policy could provide coverage for personal property in these cases, but there can be limits on certain items, and there may also be a deductible involved.

High-value items and other types of items need to be scheduled on a personal property floater or separately insured in order to be covered. Depending on your situation and types of property, it’s worth talking to your insurance agent to make sure you have the right policies, specific coverage and endorsements, etc.

Make Sure You Have Adequate Auto Insurance Coverage

These are just a few common car insurance myths. Before you purchase any insurance policy, it is important to be educated about the product, as well as be informed about the myths and misconceptions that may abound concerning it.

If you have additional questions or concerns, you should consult with a trusted and reputable independent agent who is experienced in personal lines insurance and knows how to navigate the insurance landscape. If you would like to receive a competitive and customized insurance proposal for your car insurance, please contact the professionals at Ruhl Insurance, a division of Horst Insurance, today at 1-800-537-6880 or 717-665-2283.

The post 14 Common Car Insurance Myths appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

What is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you and relatives living in your household from losses suffered if an injury is caused by the negligence of a driver who does not have any insurance (uninsured) or not enough insurance (underinsured) to pay for losses and damages.

This coverage is like a safety net for situations where the other driver is at fault and cannot pay for your losses. Although these are considered optional coverages in Pennsylvania, both coverages are mandatory in several states. They are available as separate coverage options or together as a stacked option and they are definitely some coverages to consider when customizing your car insurance policy.

This is particularly true because state minimum limits are often not enough. State limits and requirements for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage do vary by state, so it’s important to review this coverage with your insurance agent to make sure you have adequate protection.

What Does Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Cover?

Although these coverages are often offered together, they cover different things. Specifics will vary by state and by your policy. In general, here’s what uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage covers:

Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM)

If you are hit by a driver who does not have auto insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage, or UM coverage, protects you and can pay out to cover those losses per your policy. This can include compensation for medical bills for you as well as your passengers in addition to damage to your vehicle. This happens via uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) and uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverages respectively.

Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Cover Hit-and-Run Accidents?

Uninsured motorist coverage can come into play if you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident. In this scenario, you may have the option of filing a claim against your uninsured motorist coverage.

In some states, UMPD will not cover hit-and-run scenarios. If this is the case in your state, collision coverage would need to be included on your auto insurance policy to compensate for the damages to your vehicle caused by a hit-and-run driver.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM)

If you are hit by a driver who does not have enough coverage on their policy to pay for the damages or injuries they caused, your underinsured motorist coverage can come into play to pay for the difference.

Like uninsured motorist coverage, this can include compensation for medical bills for you and your passengers as well as damage to your vehicle through underinsured motorist bodily injury (UIMBI) and underinsured motorist property damage (UIMPD) coverages.

Although it can be a separate coverage option, underinsured motorist coverage, or UIM coverage, is usually offered in a stacked policy with uninsured motorist coverage. It will vary by state, but some states may require a deductible for the bodily injury portion of UM and UIM coverage while the property damage portion generally doesn’t include or require a deductible.

Do I Really Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Although all insurance companies are required to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, not all states require drivers to have them. Auto insurance including bodily injury is required for Pennsylvania drivers, but underinsured and underinsured motorist coverage is considered optional.

In states where this coverage is not mandatory, there may be a lot of underinsured drivers on the road. There are also those individuals who choose to drive illegally without any insurance. The Insurance Research Council estimates that approximately 1 in 7 drivers in the US are driving without even basic auto coverage.

Not having uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage leaves you at risk. Even going for the bare minimum on these coverages can leave you at risk. Minimum coverage can only go so far to cover your losses. When it’s gone, it’s gone and you will be left inadequately compensated. The best way to protect yourself and your family members is to carry uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage with adequate limits on your own personal auto policy.

Do I Need Both Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

Some states require both uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to be on every policy. Some states only require one or the other. In some states, these coverages are considered optional.

One of the car insurance myths is that comprehensive coverage is enough for everything. Although comprehensive coverage does provide a lot, it may not provide sufficient coverage when someone else damages your vehicle and their coverage is insufficient or nonexistent.

Although it may not necessarily be mandatory in your state to have both uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, it’s a good idea to have both to make sure you are covered for potential losses in case of an accident.

Make Sure You Have the Right Auto Insurance With Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is an affordable and invaluable addition to your auto insurance policy. If you need to add coverage or aren’t sure if your current policy offers adequate coverage, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880. We can look at your policies and help you add this vital coverage if you do not already have it.

The post What to Know About Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

1. It’s been more than a year.
2. Your policy is coming up for renewal.
3. You’ve upgraded safety measures.
4. There are additions to the property.
5. You’ve made a major purchase.
6. You have added new operations.
7. There are new employees.

1. It’s Been More Than a Year

A lot can change in a year. If it’s been more than a year since you last reviewed your farm insurance coverage, it’s a good idea to prioritize it and check in with your insurance agent. Depending on your situation and needs, there may be coverage gaps that leave your agribusiness exposed and need to be addressed. Conversely, there may be endorsements you no longer need, limits that could be adjusted without sacrificing coverage, or discounts for which you now qualify.

2. Your Policy is Coming Up For Renewal

At the very least, you should be reviewing your insurance policy when it is coming up for renewal. Depending on your policy, this could be on an annual or semi-annual basis. Your insurer should be sending you a copy of your insurance policy Declarations Page before each renewal for review.

The DEC page is considered the “go-to document” for your insurance policy. It contains the most critical information regarding your current coverage. You should take time to look over it when you receive it to make sure everything is correct and covered. Having a discussion with your insurance agent can help make sure nothing is overlooked or missing from your current policy.

In the event that your policy does need to be updated, your insurance agent will be able to help you make those updates so that you have the coverage you need. This type of personalized advice and support is one of the benefits of working with an independent insurance agent, especially one who has experience with insuring farms and agribusiness operations.

3. You’ve Upgraded Safety Measures

Any time you make a change to your property or operations is a good time to review your farm insurance policy. This could include measures you’ve taken to protect livestock, and includes even seemingly minor changes like updating, upgrading, or improving safety measures

Upgraded heating, electrical, or plumbing systems can affect the value of your property. You want to make sure that the value of your operations in your farm insurance coverage reflects those updated systems. Installing backup generators, installing security systems, replacing fire alarms, etc. are all maintenance and safety measures that protect your farm and also show insurers that you are a responsible property owner.

With upgraded safety measures in place, you lower overall risk and could be eligible for premium discounts on your farm insurance. Visible signage, maintenance and upkeep, and safety measures like these are also ways farmers can avoid frivolous liability claims.

4. There Are Additions to the Property

Outside of safety and security systems, you also want to review your farm insurance policy when other additions and improvements have been made to the property. Whether it’s the construction of new outbuildings, installing a new roof, or something as simple as repairing a fence, you want to make sure these changes and improvements are noted and reflected in your policy. These are all things that can affect the value and risk factors associated with your operations.

One of the things people don’t know about farm insurance is that a single policy can offer comprehensive coverage for property and equipment and for both personal and commercial assets. Farm policies are equipped to provide coverage for a farmer’s dwelling structure and personal content, as well as outbuildings, farm buildings, etc. on the property.

But your insurance agent needs to be aware of those assets, and some of them may need to be specifically listed on your policy or have endorsements added for coverage to be extended to them. Also, keep track of your receipts/invoices for these additions or improvements; your agent may be required to provide details about the improvements and copies of associated receipts to your insurer.

5. You’ve Made a Major Purchase

Another one of the signs you need to review your farm insurance policy is if you have made a major purchase. This could include safety measures, new construction on the property, and improvements. It can also include the purchase of new equipment or even high-value items inside your home. You should also have a conversation about what is and is not covered under standard farm personal property insurance, and the current coverage on your policy related to new assets.

High-value assets, including artwork, fine jewelry, etc., may need to be specifically endorsed, or “scheduled”, on your policy in order to be covered. Whether via purchasing yourself or receiving as a gift, obtaining valuables is a prime time to review your homeowner’s insurance, and it applies to farm insurance as well.

Similarly, you don’t want to wait to add new farm equipment to your farm insurance policy. Making sure these items are added to your policy as soon as possible ensures your purchases are protected and you are covered in case something goes wrong.

6. You Have Added New Operations

Whenever you change the way your farm or ranch operates, it’s a good idea to have a conversation with your insurance agent. If you are removing operations or changing them, there may be supplemental endorsements you no longer need, or your limits may no longer reflect your needs, whether they are higher than you need or lower. Not having the right coverage, and enough of it, is a mistake to avoid when buying dairy farm insurance or when insuring any ag operation.

If you are adding new business ventures or operations, there may be new risks or high-value items associated with that venture that require more coverage or different types of coverage. For example, farmers renting land need farm insurance coverage, whether they are leasing land to other ag operators or renting land from another farmer. Depending on the nature of agreements, type of land, how it’s used, and more, you may need to acquire new types of coverage, schedule items on your policy, extend limits, etc. to adequately cover your new venture.

7. There Are New Employees

Hiring new employees for your farm can be a good sign that your operations are growing. It’s also a sign you need to review your farm insurance policy. In addition to making sure new hires are added to your farm workers’ compensation, you can also work with your insurance agent to identify anything else that needs to change.

For example, if you are hiring staff to help run a new agritainment venture on your property, you will want to make sure your insurance agent is aware of those changes. You will want to make sure you have the right insurance coverage in place and are taking all the right measures to lower your risk and protect your agritainment investment.

Make Sure You Have the Right Insurance Coverage For Your Farm With Ruhl

These are a few signs you need to review your farm insurance policy. In some cases, they can be reasons why you need additional liability coverage for your ag operation. You may not always need to make changes to your policy, but making sure you take the time to check in and evaluate your coverage helps make sure all aspects of your agribusiness operation are covered.

You don’t want your farm insurance coverage to fall short when you need it the most. If you need to review or update your farm insurance, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880. We can help you navigate coverage options for your farm.

The post 7 Signs You Need to Review Your Farm Insurance Policy appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

The answer is, “It depends.” Insurance companies handle things in different ways, so the short answer is that it depends on who your insurance company is and what coverage you have. Here is a brief overview of some of the grape crop insurance options:

1. Winery Stock Coverage
2. Grape Crop Insurance
3. Grapevine Insurance Program

1. Winery Stock Coverage

Winery stock coverage is an insurance option that can offer protection for your grapes when they are in storage as stock or as product. In most cases, if you are dealing with a company that has an insurance program for vineyards and wineries, your grapes will be covered as stock, but only while they are in the bins.

They can also be covered as product when they are in the barrels or bottles. Endorsements can be added to a policy to extend coverage for wine or grape stock in transit, usually inland marine coverage. However, winery stock coverage does not cover grapes while they are still hanging on the vines. Pre-harvest grapes are considered crops and need to be insured under grape crop insurance.

2. Grape Crop Insurance

If you are looking for coverage while your grapes are on the vines, you need crop insurance coverage. Grape crop insurance is a federal program administered by the USDA Risk Management Agency. It is not available in all states and counties. The Sales Closing Date for the program is November 20th.

The program is set up by grape variety and will cover your grapes while they are still on the vine. Covered causes of loss include drought, excessive rainfall, wildlife, hail, wildfire, insects, and plant disease. Frost is also a covered loss with some limitations by grape variety.

However, this program is an Actual Production History (APH) policy, which means coverage is based on a vineyard’s historical production. You need at least three years of yield records in order to start meeting the qualifications for the USDA grape insurance program. If you are a new vineyard and want this coverage, start keeping records now.

3. Grapevine Insurance Program

In 2023, the USDA released the Grapevine Insurance program to expand crop insurance options. It is designed to complement the existing grape crop insurance program and extend protection to grafted vines. This coverage is not available in all states and countries. The Sales Closing Date is November 1st.

Grapevine insurance provides coverage for the loss of grafted vines caused by natural perils. Covered causes of loss include freeze, fire, hail, flood, insects, and plant disease. This coverage is meant to alleviate the costs and time it takes to reestablish a productive vine.

This coverage is classified as a “mortality policy”, which means it pays losses when the vine is dead or catastrophically damaged. This is when the vine is so badly damaged that it will not recover in the 12 months following the loss event.

It is also based on the Tree-Based Dollar Amount of Insurance (TDO). There is an Occurrence Loss Option (OLO) for producers with buy-up coverage to get coverage for smaller losses that are at least 5%. It is available at an additional premium. If you already have recognized freeze protection practices in place, you may qualify for the Freeze Protection Option, which provides a premium discount.

Explore Winery and Vineyard Insurance With Ruhl

The importance of having an agent who has experience in your industry is invaluable. It allows the right questions to be asked so the right coverage can be in place in the event of a claim before you need it. Whether Ruhl Insurance is your agent or someone else, make sure you know whether or not they have experience in what you do. Not all industries are created equal.

If you have questions about insurance for your winery or grape crops, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880. We can help you navigate coverage options for your winery and vineyard.

Ruhl Insurance is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The post Grape Crop Insurance: How Are My Winery Grapes Covered? appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.

What Does Standard Homeowner’s Insurance Cover?

Standard, or broad form, homeowner’s insurance can vary by carrier and on a number of factors. Whether you are getting an insurance proposal for the first time or comparing insurance quotes, it’s important to make sure you know what the covered losses and coverage exclusions are under a specific policy.

It’s also important to note that a “standard” policy is not the end point of homeowner’s insurance. Coverage can be “added back” for additional perils or exclusions through endorsements or additional lines of coverage.

What Are Covered Losses?

Covered losses, or covered perils, refer to the financial losses for which an insurance company will provide financial reimbursement as determined by the terms of the corresponding insurance policy.

In the case of homeowner’s insurance, covered losses would describe the incidents that affect your home and cause financial loss that would be reimbursed, fully or partially, under the terms of your homeowner’s insurance policy.

Your insurance policy DEC page should clearly lay out policy information, including covered losses. Your insurance agent will be able to walk you through what your current policy or any potential new policies do and do not cover; as well as whether the limits are sufficient, especially when taking replacement cost and market value into consideration for home insurance. They will also be able to advise on any endorsements or additional lines of coverage you may need to get coverage for any exclusions listed.

2 Main Coverage Types in Homeowners Insurance

In homeowners insurance, there are two main coverage types you may see – named peril policies and open peril policies.

Named Peril

In a named-peril homeowner’s insurance policy, covered losses are specifically listed and you are only covered against those specific perils. In the instance of a claim, you will need to be able to prove the property damage was caused by a named peril on your policy.

If you are unable to do so, your claim may be denied and you may not be reimbursed as it would not be considered a covered loss. This generally applies to the personal property section of your policy.

Open Peril

With an open-peril or all-risk homeowner’s insurance policy, you are considered covered against all losses except for the specific coverage exclusions on the policy. With an open perils policy, it would be up to your insurance company to prove the damage falls under an exclusion in order to deny a claim due to lack of coverage. This type of coverage generally applies to the dwelling and other structures section of your policy.

Potential Covered Losses on a Standard Homeowner’s Policy

Does homeowner’s insurance cover damage to your home? It depends. It generally does if it was caused by a covered peril; whether through the standard policy or via endorsements that have been added to the policy. A standard homeowner’s policy (broad form) may include the following list of covered perils:

• Fire & Lightning
• Windstorm & Hail
• Explosion
• Riot or Civil Commotion
• Non-Owned Vehicles or Aircraft Damage
• Smoke
• Vandalism
• Theft (Limited)
• Glass Breakage
• Weight of Ice, Sleet, and Snow
• Collapse of Building (Not Settling Damage)
• Freezing of Plumbing or Heating System
• Accidental Leakage of Plumbing or Heating System

What Does Standard Homeowner’s Insurance Not Cover?

Insurance is all about risk management and balancing the coverage you need with what you are willing to self-insure by forgoing coverage. Emerging and evolving risks, economic shifts, and more have an effect on insurance trends and can have an effect on what is and is not covered under standard insurance policies.

Evolving needs and stricter underwriting restrictions can mean more or new coverage exclusions on standard policies. This only makes obtaining the right endorsements or additional lines of insurance even more important to ensure proper coverage; if lines of coverage are available for those perils.

There are endorsements and additional lines of coverage available through supplemental markets for a variety of the “standard” coverage exclusions that can allow you to get coverage for additional perils. In this way, you can turn coverage exclusions into covered losses provided you have the right endorsements on your policy. Depending on the nature of the risk and coverage needed, there may not be a market for it, there could be limited options available, or the options available could be cost-prohibitive.

What Are Coverage Exclusions?

Coverage exclusions are the perils and incidents of financial loss for which an insurance company will not reimburse you; unless you have obtained coverage for them via endorsements or additional lines of coverage. In most cases, coverage exclusions are explicitly stated on insurance policies. It’s important to understand the implications of these exclusions and get additional coverage for anything you need to avoid having related insurance claims denied.

Common Coverage Exclusions With Standard Homeowner’s Insurance

Coverage exclusions will vary by market, carrier, location, etc. It’s important to work with your insurance agent when obtaining and reviewing insurance proposals to make sure you know what is and isn’t covered by your current policy and any new policies you are considering.

This is not an exhaustive list because coverage exclusions can vary and there are endorsements available to add coverage for some of them. In general, a standard homeowner’s insurance policy usually does NOT cover the following perils:

• Dogs & Pet Liabilities (It Depends)
• Normal Wear and Tear
• Intentional Loss & Neglect
• Home-Based Businesses
• Earthquakes & Earth Movement
• Power Surges (Caused by Utility Companies)
• Floods & Sewer Backups
• Pest Infestations
• Mold & Wet Rot
• Local Building
• Government Action
• Acts of War
• Nuclear Hazards

Important Considerations in the Event of a Loss

Here are a few points to remember in the event of a loss:

• Your policy may cover the dwelling, other structures on the property, and your personal belongings.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that your property is maintained in a way to avoid loss.
• The loss is covered only if it is caused by one of the perils listed on your policy, including the standard policy as well as any endorsements or additional lines of coverage you have added to the policy.
• After a loss, you are responsible for taking measures to avoid any further loss.
• You are responsible for paying the deductible amount on your policy.

Final decisions about whether a loss will be covered, and for how much, is ultimately the decision of a trained claims adjuster. This is also why it’s important to regularly review your insurance coverage to make sure you are properly insured before a loss occurs. There are many times to review your homeowners’ insurance. Doing so annually before your renewal date is a minimum.

Please note that the above information is not, by any means, all-inclusive, but will hopefully help in determining if you did, in fact, experience a covered loss. It is also important to note that many of the standard policy exclusions can be addressed with policy endorsements.

These policy endorsements have a cost associated with them but can address any specific concerns or exposures you may have that are outside the scope of coverage within the standard policy. Additional coverages beyond what is excluded in the standard policy may also be available and increase your protection while helping you build a better homeowner’s insurance policy.

Call your agent right away when you’ve experienced a loss and we will do our best to walk you through the process. For help with your homeowner’s policy, contact Ruhl Insurance, a Division of Horst Insurance, at 717-665-2283 or 800-537-6880.

The post What Does Standard Homeowner’s Insurance Cover and Not Cover? appeared first on Ruhl Insurance.