Farm Insurance: Covering Your Assets

Farm Insurance:

Covering Your Assets

Ohio State University Agricultural & Resource Law Program

Robert Moore, Attorney, OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Program

Jeffrey K. Lewis, Attorney, OSU Income Tax Schools

Zachary Ishee, Law Fellow, National Agricultural Law Center

Samantha Capaldo, Law Fellow, National Agricultural Law Center

Farms are subject to more risks than ever before. Whether it is the liability exposure of driving

equipment on roadways or the potential of property loss due to a barn roof collapse, every farm has

multiple sources of risk. While farmers can reduce their risk exposure through good business

practices and rigorous safety protocols, there is no way to entirely eliminate risks. For this reason,

insurance policies that adequately protect against risks are a necessity for farm operations.

Farmers likely understand the important role insurance plays in protecting farm assets. But how

many actually read and understand their insurance policies? The failure to read a policy is probably

not due to apathy but is more likely due to the complex nature of an insurance policy. Reading and

understanding an insurance policy is difficult for anyone other than those in the insurance industry.

The objective of this publication is to provide a general description of farm insurance and insurance

policies that will help a farmer understand policy provisions and review them with an insurance

professional. Our information is based on general knowledge as applicable to most policies, but every

situation and policy is different. It is important to work with an insurance professional and

periodically review a policy, including coverage limits, to ensure a farm operation is fully covered for

its potential risks.

Thank you to our reviewers

A special thank you to these insurance professionals for reviewing this publication:

Erin D. Cumings, CPCU, AFIS, API Cassandra Converse

Sr. Consultant, Sponsor Relations Converse and Associates, LLC

Nationwide Delaware, Ohio

1. Understanding a Farm Insurance Policy

An insurance policy is a legal contract between

an insurance company (the “insurer”) and the

person or business being insured (the “insured”).

The policy holds the insurer responsible for

paying the insured for eligible claims. The

contract requires the insured to meet certain

obligations such as timely reporting of claims.

Once the policy becomes active, both the insurer

and the insured are legally bound to the terms of

the policy. This legal obligation is present even if

the insured is unaware of some or all of the

terms of the policy. It is the obligation of the

insured to read and understand the policy.

1.1. Structure of an Insurance Policy

Most insurance policies contain these sections:

• Declaration Page

• Insuring Agreement

• Definitions

• Exclusions

• Conditions

• Endorsements

• Schedule of Locations of Property

Declaration Page. The declaration page

identifies the individual or entity that is insured

under the policy and provides details about the

policy itself such as:

• Risks or property covered

• Policy limits

• Policy deductibles

• Time period policy is effective

• List of policy forms

The Insuring Agreement. The insuring

agreement is a summary of the promises made

by the insurance company and states what is

covered and not covered under the policy. In the

insuring agreement section, an insurer promises

to pay for losses resulting from a covered cause

of loss (also known as a “peril”), provide certain

services in the event of a covered peril, or

defend an insured against a liability lawsuit.

Usually, the insuring agreement outlines a

policy’s broad scope of coverage, which is then

narrowed by exclusions and definitions.

Definitions. The definitions section includes any

definitions applicable to the specific policy.

Exclusions. The exclusions section specifically

lists what an insurance policy does not cover.

Exclusions include the property, act and/or

cause of loss that are not covered under a policy.

For example, a general liability policy may

exclude coverage for an intentional or illegal act

committed by the insured or damage caused by

flood, earthquake or even war. Also, many

policies now include exclusions for

communicable diseases following the COVID

epidemic.

Conditions. Conditions are provisions contained

within an insurance policy that can limit an

insurance company’s obligation to pay or

perform. The conditions usually place some type

of obligation on the insured that must be met

before the insurance company is obligated to

pay or cover a loss. If the conditions are not met,

an insurance company can deny a claim for

which coverage would otherwise have existed.

Common conditions within a policy include the

requirement to notify the insurance company of

any loss within a reasonable time, the duty to

cooperate with an insurance company’s

investigation or defense of a claim, or to allow

an insurance company to inspect any damaged

property before repairs begin.

Endorsements.

Insurance companies usually

have a template insurance policy they use when

drafting an insurance policy for an insured. Thus,

it is common to find that your farm policy looks

like your neighbor’s policy. However, individuals

and business owners can modify the standard

provisions within an insurance policy by adding

endorsements. Endorsements are written

provisions that add, subtract, or modify the

provisions contained within the original

insurance policy. This allows policy holders to

tailor an insurance policy to ensure that the

unique needs or risks of the business are

covered. An endorsement is available for a wide

range of activities and assets.

Schedule of Locations of Property. The policy

will include a list of property locations where

insured assets are located. Each parcel owned

and operated by the farm should be included.

Failure to include all locations can result in a

denial of a claimed loss.

1.2. What Does a Typical Farm

Insurance Policy Cover?

Areas of Protection. A typical farm policy

includes the following areas of protection:

• Liability

• Home and contents

• Farm personal property, sometimes

including equipment

Endorsements are typically used to modify property

and liability insurance policies. The term “rider” is

often used to describe a modification of an

insurance policy but applies to life insurance policy

modifications.

• Farm structures

• Other additional coverages

A farm insurance policy typically covers both

farm assets and non-farm assets. Having all

assets covered under one policy, rather than

having separate policies for personal and farm,

is usually more convenient, less expensive, and

can eliminate confusion when a claim impacts

personal and farm property

. Noticeably

absent from the above list are vehicles

(including ATV’s and UTV’s) and workers’

compensation. A separate policy is usually

issued for the coverage of these vehicles for

both liability and property loss. A separate

policy is usually issued if the farm is required

by state law to carry workers’ compensation

coverage.

Liability Coverage. Liability coverage protects

against most risks associated with the farm

operation such as bodily injury, medical

expenses and property damages caused by

accidents associated with the farming

operation. Also, and sometimes just as

importantly, the policy will cover attorney’s

fees associated with defending the liability

incidents.

Property Loss Coverage. A farm policy will

provide coverage for the loss of farm assets

due to a covered peril. Farm assets are

typically divided into two categories within the

policy: personal farm property (machinery,

grain, livestock) and farm structures. In the

event of damage or destruction of a farm asset

due to a covered peril, the insurance company

Separate business policies may be required for

large-scale operations (i.e., large dairies), agritourism, or

unique exposures.

will pay some but not necessarily all of the

covered asset’s value to the farm operation.

1.3. Types of Coverage

Basic Coverage. A policy that provides basic

coverage is only going to cover the insured for

named perils. If an event that is not named in

the policy occurs, no coverage is provided.

Common perils often included in basic

coverage are:

• Fire

• Lightning

• Windstorm or Hail

• Explosion

• Smoke

• Vandalism

• Aircraft or Vehicle Collision

• Riot or Civil Commotion

• Sinkhole Collapse

Each of these perils will also include

exceptions to coverage. For example, the

Vandalism coverage usually excludes any

buildings that have been vacant for more than

30 days. Again, any perils that are not

expressly provided for are not covered under a

basic coverage policy.

Broad Coverage. Broad coverage is more

expansive than basic coverage but is still

limited to only the named perils. This type of

coverage will include the perils identified in the

basic coverage plus additional named perils.

The additional perils covered by broad

coverage often include the following:

• Burglary/Break-in damage

• Falling Objects (like tree limbs)

• Weight of Ice and Snow

• Freezing of Plumbing

• Accidental Water Damage

• Artificially Generated Electricity

• Accidental Tearing Apart

• Loading/Unloading Accidents

Like basic coverage, the broad coverage perils

often include exceptions. An example of a

broad coverage exception is freezing of

plumbing may not be covered in a building

which does not maintain heat.

Special Coverage. Special coverage is the

most comprehensive coverage available.

Unlike basic and broad coverage, special

coverage includes everything except identified

exceptions. So, everything is covered unless

specifically exempted. Special coverage can

and will include many exceptions. For

example, special coverage will likely also

include an exclusion for vandalism in buildings

that have been vacant for 30 days. It is

important to know what exclusions apply to

the special coverage.

Incorporation of Basic, Broad, and Special

Coverage in The Insurance Policy. A policy

may include one or more of the different types

of coverages. For example, a policy may

include special coverage on all farm machinery

but broad coverage on all other personal

property. It is important to know what assets

are covered under which type of coverage. The

type of coverage is typically identified on the

declarations page. It is usually best to have

special coverage for the most comprehensive

coverage, but special coverage is also more

expensive than basic and broad coverage.

Weighing the additional cost of special

coverage versus the benefit of comprehensive

coverage provided is an important analysis to

be done for each insurance policy.

Environmental Coverage. Many standard

farm policies do not include coverage for

pollution, although pollution coverage can be

added with an endorsement to the policy.

Fertilizers, fuel, and manure are some of the

more common potential sources of pollution

for a farming operation. A pollution event can

occur when an agricultural pollutant is

accidentally discharged or released. Pollution

coverage will typically include liability coverage

for pollution cleanup costs and liability

coverage for claims of bodily injury and

property damage arising from a pollution

event. Because nearly every farm has the

potential for a pollution event, either adding

environmental coverage to the farm policy or

purchasing a separate pollution policy should

be strongly considered.

2. Obtaining and Maintaining a Farm Insurance

Policy

2.1. Choosing an Insurance Agent

and Carrier

An insurance agent is an important person on

a farmer’s management team. Selection of the

agent is important to ensure the insurance

policy meets the needs of the farm. The

insurance agent should have a good

understanding of agriculture and experience

working with farms. Additionally, the agent

should be able and willing to work with the

insurance carrier to build a policy for each

farm, not simply use the same template for

every farm. Each farm is unique, and the farm

insurance policy should be unique as well.

When interviewing prospective agents, be

sure to ask for their background and

experience with farms and consider asking for

referrals from other farmers.

The insurance agent can only design an

insurance policy to cover the farm activities

and farm assets that they know about. It is the

farm owner’s responsibility to inform the

insurance agent of how the farm operates,

who is involved with the farm, and the assets

owned by the farm. Consider inviting the

insurance agent to visit the farm to be sure

they have a good and full understanding of the

operations of the farm.

Each insurance agent works with one or more

insurance carriers. Several services provide

financial ratings of insurance carriers, and it is

worthwhile to know the rating of the carrier

you work with. Your agent should be able to

provide you with the financial rating as well.

The rating indicates the carrier’s ability to pay

claims, especially in times of large catastrophic

losses that can occur during a natural disaster.

Understanding your carrier’s rating is

important as the carrier has an ongoing

financial obligation to you. If the carrier is

unable to cover all claims in a natural disaster

or otherwise fails to meet its coverage

obligations, a farm covered by that carrier can

be at risk. Keep in mind that the same rating

can mean different things depending on the

service used. For example, an A+ score is the

second highest score for A. M. Best while an

A+ is the fifth best rating for Moody’s.

2.2. Cancellation of a Policy

A farm insurance policy can include several

reasons for cancellation, often more intricate

reasons than a typical homeowner’s policy

contains. When cancelling a policy, the

insurance carrier will mail a notice of

cancellation to the insured at least 30 days

before the effective termination date. This

notice period provides time for the insured to

obtain another insurance policy or correct

errors and maintain the current insurance. If a

policy is cancelled, a refund is usually issued to

the insured for any amount paid for a period

that will no longer be covered. Cancellation

rules and notification periods vary by state and

are mandated by the state’s Department of

Insurance.

Nonpayment of Premiums. The first reason

for cancellation is the most obvious one,

nonpayment of premiums. This is as simple as

it sounds. The insured must make timely

payments to continue to keep its insurance

policy in place and at work. Insurance carriers

are required to provide written notice to the

insured that premiums are past due and that

the policy will be cancelled if payment is not

made. The insured usually has the option to

pay the premiums monthly, quarterly, semi-

annually or annually.

Fraud and Reckless Omission. Other reasons

that a policy might be cancelled are connected.

One may be the discovery of fraud or material

misrepresentations in the information given to

obtain the policy. The other may be a reckless

omission of information given to obtain the

insurance policy. These two provisions cover

any incorrect information, usually provided by

the insured in an application form, which may

have been provided, intentionally or not, to the

insurance provider when procuring the policy.

An insurance company relies on the accuracy

and validity of the information they are

provided when deciding the appropriate

methods of coverage. It is necessary to ensure

that accurate information is transmitted to any

insurance provider.

Risk Profile. A policy can be cancelled due to

changes in an insured’s risk profile. The

insurance carrier issues a policy based on the

known risks attributable to the insured. If the

insured increases their risk exposure, the

insurance carrier may not be willing or able to

cover the additional risk exposure and cancel

the policy mid-term or non-renew the policy at

the expiration. An example provision in an

insurance policy may be something like “This

policy may be cancelled due to a substantial

change in the individual risk which increases

the hazard potential to the insurer unless the

change was reasonably foreseeable.” Similarly,

a policy may include cancellation language

such as “ This policy may be cancelled due to

any determination that the insurer determines

could create a condition that is hazardous to

the public.”

Compliance. If the insured fails to maintain

adequate compliance with the safety codes

applicable to a building or structure, the

insured party risks losing their coverage for the

building or structure.

Cancellation by Insured. An insured typically

has the right to cancel their policy at any time,

although some fees might apply. Generally,

cancellation by the insured will require the

individual to deliver notice to the insurance

company.

3. Dealing with a Loss or Claim

In the event of a property loss or a liability

incident, the insured and the insurance carrier

cooperate to determine the type of coverage

and the extent of coverage required by the

insurance policy. As a practical matter, an

insured is well-advised to thoroughly

document the loss event. This may include

written notes, pictures and/or retained

documents.

Notification. The insured should notify law

enforcement if any laws were broken in

causing the loss event. This notification should

be promptly followed by notice to the

insurance company and include a general

description of the events and the property that

is damaged. This notice does not usually need

to be in great detail, but a simple explanation

of how the damage occurred, when the

damage occurred, and what property was

damaged. Additionally, it is important for the

insured to take reasonable steps to protect the

property from further diminishing in value.

Essentially, the insured should not allow the

property to be completely destroyed if the

insured party can salvage any of the value.

Inventory. After notification is provided, the

duties and responsibilities of the insured are

not over. For a property loss, the insured party

should complete an inventory of the damaged

property. The inventory may include quantities,

costs, values, and the specific amount of loss

claimed. An inventory serves multiple

purposes. First, it causes the insured to

identify all property subject to loss and the

extent of the loss in an organized manner. An

inventory also provides a summary to the

insurance carrier so that the carrier may begin

the claim process more expeditiously. The

insurance provider will likely conduct an

investigation into the claimed loss and an

inventory will assist the carrier in its

investigation. Last, in the event the insured

disputes the insurance carrier’s determination

related to the loss, the inventory will make the

process of challenging the insurance carrier’s

payout easier.

4. Your Insurance Policy at Work

4.1. Property Loss Payout

Determinations

Obviously, insurance is obtained for the

financial protection it provides to the insured in

the event of a loss event. Thus, the amount

one receives from their insurance carrier is

likely one of the main considerations when

reviewing or shopping for a new policy.

Essentially, property insurance payouts are

calculated based on either the replacement

value method or the actual cash value

method.

These two payout methods create

the basis for the amount of money an insured

party will receive for their loss.

Replacement value means the cost to repair or

replace the Covered Property, at the time of

loss or damage, with materials of like kind and

quality, without deduction for deterioration,

depreciation, and obsolescence. Essentially, a

policy utilizing replacement value will pay the

smaller amount of restoring the items to their

condition at the time of damage or the cost of

replacing them with items of the same

condition. This method can provide a more

stable and higher amount of payout in certain

circumstances

If the insured and insurance company agree on a

payout amount, the agreed upon amount can be

used in lieu of the replacement value or cash value.

The other means of determining an insurance

payout is by using actual cash value. Because

most items depreciate over time, the amount

paid under this method is usually lower than

the replacement value method. Under the

actual cash value method, the insured will be

paid the value of the item’s depreciated value

rather than the amount it will cost to replace.

The difference between these two payout

methods is an important consideration when

analyzing insurance policies, especially with

the recent rise of inflation.

Consider the following example:

A new tractor purchased in 2020 for

$300,000 is now worth $200,000 due to

depreciation. The same model tractor, now

three-years-old, with similar hours, wear and

use is valued at $250,000. In this situation,

someone who has a replacement value

insurance policy would receive the $250,000

necessary to repurchase the same or similar

model. On the other hand, someone covered

under the actual cash value method would

only receive the $200,000 amount.

For equipment, insurance carriers will sometimes

use replacement value only for newer items and

actual cash value for all other items.

The above example is a simple explanation of

the difference between replacement value and

actual cash value payouts. Keep in mind,

payouts are subject to deductibles and limits

that can make the payout differences more

nuanced. Be sure to work with your insurance

agent to determine the payout for specific

losses.

An insurance policy will typically include a limit

on the payout. The insurance carrier includes

the limit to protect itself from unusually large

claims or unforeseen claims. For example,

using the above scenario, the insurance carrier

may have included a limit of $225,000 for the

payout. In that event, the owner would have

only received $225,000 for the payout rather

than the $250,000 for the replacement payout.

Limits to payouts are an important term in

insurance policies, be sure review the limits

carefully to ensure adequate coverage for farm

assets.

4.2. Co-Insurance

As stated earlier, a farm insurance policy is a

contract between the insured and the

insurance carrier. For the policy to be fair to

both parties, the insured must provide an

accurate inventory of the assets to be covered,

including values. The insurance carrier then

uses the inventory of assets and values to

calculate the premiums it must charge to carry

the insurance.

A policyholder may be tempted to suppress

the values of the assets in an attempt to keep

the premiums lower or, more likely, may not

Determining Replacement Value can be a

complicated process as it is determined on a case-

by-case basis and depends on many different

keep up with the replacement value of

property. In either case, whether intentional or

not, the insurance carrier is put into an unfair

arrangement as it calculates premiums based

on undervalued assets.

Consider the following example:

Farmer bought a tractor five years ago for

$80,000. Farmer believes the tractor has

declined in value and includes a $60,000

value on his insurance policy. A similar

tractor today would cost $100,000. Farmer’s

insurance policy pays replacement value in

the event of damage or loss. The tractor is

lost in a fire. Farmer expects to be paid the

replacement value of $100,000.

In this scenario, Farmer may expect to be paid

$100,000 to replace the tractor, but he paid

premiums based on a $60,000 value. It would

be unfair to make the insurance carrier pay

$100,000 in replacement costs when it based

its premiums on a $60,000 tractor.

To avoid the scenario in the above example,

farm insurance policies include a co-insurance

provision. This concept is an agreement

between the insured and the insurance carrier

that a minimum amount of insurance must be

purchased to replace property in the event of a

loss. If the policyholder purchases less than

the specified percentage, the insurance carrier

is not required to payout the full replacement

value – making the policy holder a “co-insurer.”

The insurance policy usually requires the

insured to purchase insurance on 80% - 100%

of the value of property. Co-insurance

factors. Be sure to review the Replacement Value

component of your farm insurance policy with your

insurance agent.

generally applies to outbuildings, dwellings,

and blanket farm personal property.

Consider the following example:

Using the same example as above, Farmer’s

co-insurance provision requires 80% coverage.

The tractor was only valued at 75% of the

replacement value so the co-insurance

provision in Farmer’s insurance policy is

triggered. The payout calculation for this loss is

as follows:

Tractor Replacement Value: $100,000

Co-insurance requirement: 80%

Required amount of insurance: $80,000

($100,000 x 80%=$80,000)

Actual insurance amount purchased $60,000

Actual insurance/required insurance: 75%

($60,000/$80,000 = 75%)

Required payout

$75,000

($100,000 x 75% = $75,000)

As this example illustrates, Farmer did not

meet his obligation to buy insurance on at least

80% of the value of the tractor. Farmer

reported a value of $60,000 or 75% of the

value of the tractor. By not meeting the 80%

co-insurance requirement, Farmer triggered

the co-insurance provision and is therefore

partly responsible for the replacement cost.

Farmer becomes the co-insured for 25% of the

replacement value, the proportion that Farmer

undervalued the combine. If Farmer had

valued the tractor at $80,000 or higher, the

insurance carrier would have been required to

payout the full $100,000 for the loss. By

Any deductible would also be deducted from

the payout.

undervaluing the tractor, Farmer forfeited

$25,000 of insurance payout.

Co-insurance is an important part of a farm

policy that most people have never heard of.

The co-insurance provision should be

reviewed with the insurance agent along with

the value of assets to ensure that full payouts

will occur in the event of a loss. It does no

good to discover that assets are valued too

low after a claim is submitted, any adjustments

in value to comply with the co-insurance

requirement must be done before there is a

loss.

4.3 Appealing Coverage

Determinations

After submitting a claim, the insurance carrier

will typically send a letter stating the extent of

the coverage or a denial of coverage. The

letter will also include instructions on how to

appeal the determination. If the insured does

not believe the coverage or denial

determination is correct, the insured can

appeal the determination. The notice of appeal

is sent to the insurance carrier and will initiate

the appeal process. Be sure to meet all

deadlines and follow the instructions for

appealing carefully. A missed deadline or a

misstep in filing the appeal can extinguish

appeal rights. The matter must typically be

appealed to the insurance carrier before taking

the matter to arbitration or litigation.

If the insurance carrier denies the appeal, then

litigation and/or arbitration may be the next

step. At this point, hiring an attorney is often

warranted. An attorney experienced in

working with matters related to insurance and

insurance carriers can provide valuable insight

and counsel in an insurance claim appeal.

Some policies may require arbitration to

resolve a dispute. Arbitration is a private

dispute resolution process where a person or

persons hear arguments from both parties

then issue a decision. Arbitration can be more

expeditious and less costly than litigation.

Matters taken to litigation are decided by a

court. Litigation may take longer and be more

expensive than arbitration but also may

provide more appeal rights.

In addition to appeals to the insurance carrier,

complaints about the conduct of insurance

carriers can be submitted to your state’s

Department or Bureau of Insurance. The

complaint should explain the matter in some

detail. Including photos or other supporting

evidence with the complaint is often a good

idea. The department will review the

complaint and, if warranted, conduct an

investigation into the matters provided by the

complaint. The department may reach out to

the carrier to encourage a resolution of the

matter identified in the complaint. All

insurance carriers conducting business in Ohio

are subject to the rules and regulations of the

Ohio Department of Insurance.

5. Unique Activities That May Not Be Covered by a

Farm Policy

Below is a list of activities and assets that may

not be covered by standard farm policies. Each

of these are a source of liability exposure.

Review the list and check any activities that

are involved with your farming operation. Then

provide the list to your insurance agent to be

sure your farm policy covers each activity or

asset.

 Agritourism activities

 Aircraft application of pesticides or

fertilizers (self or custom)

 Aircraft for personal use

 ATV, side x side, or recreational vehicle

 Barns and structures not currently used

or in disrepair

 Bed and breakfasts

 Confined animal facilities

 Custom application of pesticides or

fertilizer

 Custom farm operations such as

planting or harvesting

 Drones – scouting

 Drones – application of pesticides/seed

 Embryos stored or in recipient animal

 Exotic or non-domesticated animals

 Farm markets

 Farm stands

 FFA and 4-H Projects

 Freezer beef and meat

 Hauling crops, goods or cargo for others

 Holding products such as seed, hay, or

inputs for customers after payment

 Horse boarding, riding, or training

services

 Hunting leases or other paid

recreational uses

 In-home businesses

 Leasing buildings or structures to others

 Livestock of others in your care, custody

or control

 Manure digester and methane collection

 Non-owned livestock

 Off-premises use of ATV or recreational

vehicles

 Oil and gas wells

 Pesticide or fertilizer drift

 Petting zoos

 Pick-your-own activities

 Ponds with docks or diving boards

 Portable buildings or structures,

including greenhouses

 Pulling tractor or truck

 Purchased feed, seed, or inputs not

picked up or delivered

 Radio or TV Antennas

 Rental property

 Rental of grain bins

 Sale of “altered” food products such as

bratwurst or sausage blends

 Sale or production of food or other

consumable goods

 Show stock or high value livestock

 Solar panels

 Swimming pools

 Tractor shows, parades, hayrides

 Tours (paid or unpaid)

 Using borrowed equipment

 Using rented equipment

 Unoccupied houses

 Valuable refrigerated or frozen products

 Valuable or important information on

computers

 Watercraft

 Wedding or event venues

 Wind turbines

 Wine or cider production including

tasting rooms

 Website or online presence that collects

money or stores customer information

 Your produce, grain, livestock or other

farm goods in transit

Conclusion

A farm insurance policy is a necessity for every

farming operation. While a complete and

thorough understanding of an insurance policy

is challenging for most policy holders, a basic

understanding of the policy can at least allow

for an opportunity to review the policy with the

insurance agent. Insurance policies can and

should be reviewed occasionally and

customized to each individual farming

operation. Almost any asset and activity can

be insured but the insurance agent and

insurance carrier must be aware of the activity

and asset. While this bulletin provides a

general overview of farm insurance policies, it

is no substitute for a comprehensive review of

the farm insurance policy with the issuing

insurance agent.