6: Farm Insurance

6: Farm Insurance

Farm Owner’s Insurance

Like a homeowner’s policy, most general farm insurance plans cover property damages and comprehensive personal liability coverage for claims against the farm. This insurance is only available through private insurance brokers and it is suggested that you shop around as prices vary widely from vendor to vendor.

Supplemental Comprehensive Coverage and/or Product Liability Insurance

If you have the public coming to your farm, you may want to consider increasing your farm’s comprehensive personal liability insurance in case someone gets hurt on your property. In 2019 NYS passed the Safety in Agritourism Act that limits a farm owner’s liability for visitor injuries, but only if the owner follows very strict guidelines outlined here: https://blogs.cornell.edu/smallfarmsprogram/files/2019/02/Inherent_Risk_Guidance-zg2992.pdf

If you sell products for human consumption, you run the risk of people getting sick from your products.  Make sure your general comprehensive policy covers product risks or purchase product liability insurance.

Some fruit and vegetable producers find their existing insurers are now requiring that the farm hold a certificate of FMSA training. Should that happen, here is a source for training: https://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu/training/

Fact Sheet Overview

    Workers Compensation Insurance

    Employers are required to carry workers compensation insurance for employees if cash wages exceeded $1,200 in the preceding calendar year. Coverage must be obtained effective April 1st of the year immediately following the year where the farm had $1,200 of payroll. If a farm has one or more unpaid interns or apprentices for the growing season, worker's compensation insurance must be provided for these workers too. Insurance can be purchased from the New York State Insurance Fund (http://ww3.nysif.com/), private insurers, or an employer can form/join a self-insurance group if they meet various requirements and post bond.

    State law also requires that employees be covered by a disability benefit if they are disabled off the job. Most worker's compensation insurance will also include this.

    Family members (spouse or children) and farm laborers are exempt from this requirement if the farm is not incorporated. If the farm is held as a corporation or LLC then the family member exemption does not apply because no one is related to a business entity.

    Note: Worker’s compensation insurance also applies to unpaid interns.

    Health Insurance

    Farm employers are not required to carry health insurance for their employees if they have 50 or fewer employees. However, health insurance for farmers and farm families who do not have off-farm jobs can be very costly. Farming is a high-risk occupation and families put themselves at risk when they do not carry or cannot afford health insurance coverage.

    Insurance Plan Options

    Gladle & AssociatesProvide health insurance for farm families through the Dairymen’s Health Insurance Alliance Group Plan. You do not have to be a dairy farmer to joinToll free:
    800-479-8153
    NY State of HealthThe New York State of Health Marketplace can help individuals and sole proprietors shop for and enroll in health insurance. You may also qualify to receive assistance to help pay for insurance offered through the Marketplace.https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/
    Affordable Care Act All U.S. citizens are eligible for healthcare coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplacehttps://www.healthcare.gov/

    Crop Insurance and Risk Management

    Crop insurance is available for specific crops to protect against weather-related and other common causes of loss. Federally subsidized policies are created by the USDA Risk Management Agency, but purchased from a crop insurance company.

    Current policy information is available at: www.rma.usda.gov

    And through the New York Crop Insurance Education Program: https://agriskmanagement.cornell.edu/

    Federal disaster programs can also protect against significant crop losses, if beginning farmers sign up annually by the applicable deadline. Disaster programs are administered by county USDA Farm Service Agencies, listed on each State’s FSA website: www.fsa.usda.gov.

    Insurance Companies that Serve Farms

    *This listing of insurance companies is not intended to be complete, and listing does not imply endorsement by Cornell Cooperative Extension. Check with folks located in the area near where you farm to find insurance agents and underwriters who specialize in farm policies.