Grains of Knowledge

A View from the West - Part 2!

As a follow up to our initial post of our interview with Parker Haviland, of LeBaron and Carroll, an independent agency out of Mesa, Arizona, here is part two of our interview.

 Parker shared information about his background and excitement about the agribusiness and farming niche.  We also asked Parker how he manages to stay informed about key issues and topics important to his customers.

Question - How do you stay informed on key issues that impact your clients and customers?

Answer -  There are several ways to stay informed and the biggest thing is to talk with my clients about their specific situation...what is the market doing, how their profit margins are, what changes are they making to their business/operation.  Staying informed allows me to know what my clients are going through and what struggles they may be having.  I also subscribe to many trade magazines and publications that focus on local, national and global agricultural arenas.  I also attend trade shows and conventions to stay connected and informed.  Following the natural disasters across the country also helps as we are all aware of the drought and fire-stricken areas of Texas, Oklahoma and other areas well beyond just state lines.

Question- what should others know about you and LeBaron and Carroll agency?

Answer- My greatest success in the insurance industry has come from dedicating time to work on agribusiness accounts and build relationships with farmers and ranchers.  Focusing on a niche allows me to serve my clients better and make sure they are taken care of.  The agency has grown over the past few years and much of this is due to the attention to detail we provide for our customers.  We partner with only top-notch carriers, such as Westfield, that have deep roots in agriculture and a personal commitment to outstanding service.  Many clients have said how impressed they were with the level of service and response to their losses.

Thank you Parker for serving our industry, and clients so well.  For more information, please visit  http://www.lebaronandcarroll.com/ 

 Stacey Bruce is a region leader for the small/speciality segment of Westfield's Agribusiness Division  based out of Westfield Center, Ohio, the corporate headquarters of Westfield Insurance.

The Annual Pork Congress Delivers Again!

This year, the Ohio Professional Pork Producers Symposium was held in Columbus, Ohio.  This event was sponsored by The Ohio State University Extension, Pork Checkoff, OhioPork.org, and the Ohio Pork Producers Council and was attended by many, including team members from Westfield Insurance Agribusiness Division.

The event had many exibitors as well as informative sessions for pork producers, suppliers and pork lovers.  The line up of speakers, presenters and topics included:

• Pen Gestation - Finding the Option that is Right for You by Thomas Parsons, VMD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
•  Herd Management Factors That Influence Whole Herd Feed Efficiency, Dr. Omarh Mendoza, The Maschhoffs, Illinois
• What Does the Future Hold For Ohio Pork Producers?  Dr. Chris Hurt, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, Indiana

  There were several breakout sessions that included topics such as:

• Is China going to eat our lunch?  Good or bad for pork producers?
• Weaning 30 P/S/Y with electronic sow feeding
• Packer audits - will your farm pass?
• Feeding and barn management practice that maximize feed efficiency
• Immunological castration of pigs: What is it and how does it work?
• Phosphorus levels in rivers and lakes: Do livestock producers contribute to the problem?

Lunch was preceded by an awards presentation.  The overall feedback from the sessions was very positive.  The sessions provided good lessons on timely and relevant topics.  Always good to enjoy a nice pork lunch too.  For more information on this event, visit www.ohiopork.org

 Stacey Bruce is a region leader for the small/speciality segment of Westfield's Agribusiness Division  based out of Westfield Center, Ohio, the corporate headquarters of Westfield Insurance.

Avian Flu - a threat again?

A recent article in Feedstuffs magazine I read online grabbed my attention - "H1N1 avian flu re-emerging".  Maybe it is becuase it is close to fall, flu season and flu shots. and I am keenly aware of the need to get my shot soon.  I also thought we had seen the end of this type of flu, but that may be only myth.

The article says the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced a posible resurgency of this flu and stressed there may be a "mutant strain" of this virus.  Since its introduction in 2003, the flu has killed over 300 people and infected over 500.  It has also caused more than 400 million domentic poultry to be killed and a huge economic impact globally.

The biggest concern is that the virus is able to mutant and the existing vaccines are not able to proect against the disease.  This is a concerning finding for both animals and people.

Read the article

 We are interested in learning how you protect yourself and your animals and livestock?  Please share!

Stacey Bruce is a region leader for the small/speciality segment of Westfield's Agribusiness Division which is based out of Westfield Center, Ohio, the corporate headquarters of Westfield Insurance.

From Vine to Wine

What could be better than enjoying a nice glass of wine on a warm summer evening with your favorite friends?  Many people take pleasure in visiting local wineries and wandering through the vineyards looking at the beautiful scenery.  But have you ever thought about the thriving business behind the vines? 

There is so much more to making wine than simply growing the grapes.  Large or small, the unique risks confronted require customized insurance solutions.  Westfield Insurance meets those exact needs and has designed a program specifically for wineries to cover liquor liability, pesticide application on the grapes, and equipment breakdown.

Westfield’s Winery/Vineyard package offers, by endorsement, liquor liability coverage under general liability limits.  Pesticide application coverage is an optional coverage for damage stemming from the application of pesticides and chemicals with or under the supervision of a licensed applicator.  In the event of refrigeration breakdown, contamination, or power outage, spoilage coverage can be obtained to cover damaged grapes.

Raise your glass to wineries and summer weather and contact Westfield Insurance Agribusiness Department for more information or visit Westfield Agribusiness- Winery

Posted by Lisa Rankin, Farm and Agribusiness Underwriter located at the home office in Westfield Center, Ohio.

Food Safety Changes: Are You in the Know?

 

If you do a Google search of "Food Safety Modernization Act", you will be overwhelmed by the number of sites and links that appear.  It can be a daunting task to stay current and understand what is going on with this act and the impact to businesses across the country.

We found a site and a document (attached in the link below) that includes an analysis of the Act that was passed in December 2010, commentary on the bill, and FAQ's.  The document is courtesy of the Produce Marketing Association:

 Download PMA_Food_Safety_Bill_Analysis

Here is the link for additional information:   http://www.pma.com/resources/hot-topics/food-safety-modernization-act

In the Agribusiness Division at Westfield Insurance, we insure many businesses in the food industry that will be impacted by this legislation. We feel it's important for our customers and agents to follow and be informed of the impacts of the new laws.

If you have any information, updates, or good sites to pass along to others regarding this new law, please comment back and we will share with all our followers.

Stacey Bruce is an Agribusiness Region Leader at Westfield Insurance.  You can connect with Stacey on Twitter @moo2you1 and on Linked In @ Stacey Bruce.

Livestock in the Road: Is There Coverage?

Customers commonly ask us as underwriters about coverage in the following scenario:  

I am a farmer raising beef cattle.  (You could substitute any livestock into this scenario.)  My cattle are out to pasture, and there is a break in the fence that has not been repaired or someone left the gate open.  My cattle wander into the road and are hit by an oncoming car. Is there coverage?

Assuming there is liability on our farm owner policy, there is coverage for auto physical damage and medical payments for those in the car if needed.  The loss to the cattle would be covered if it was insured on the farmowners policy via scheduled farm personal property or unscheduled farm personal property.  

Another similar scenario that we run across is similar, but instead of getting into the road, the livestock crosses onto the neighboring property/properties and causes damage to lawns, landscaping, or gardens. Coverage would respond in the same manner with liability covering their property damage.  

Written by Guest Authors Bethany Haynes & Anne Hill:
Bethany Haynes is an agribusiness underwriter who currently works with farm and commercial agribusiness accounts from our home office in Westfield Center, Ohio. Her background in the dairy industry and passion for agriculture guides her to assist our Westfield Agents and Customers to find insurance solutions.

 Anne Hill is an agribusiness underwriter who has worked in farm/agribusiness division for over 25 years and enjoys helping customers find insurance solutions.

 

Will melting snow cause a backup in your basement?

Over the last few months, many of us across the midwest experienced heavy snowfall, which when combined with frigid temperatures, resulted in mounds of snow that seemed to stay frozen for months.  Over the last few days, we've had our first considerable warm up, and while most of us welcome the chirping birds and crocuses getting ready to emerge from beneath the soil, we are also dealing with standing water as a result of melted snow. 

For farmers, standing water can be a major annoyance ... our fields are too soft to drive across with tractors, livestock aren't allowed in the pasture because they'll tear up the grass, and mud seems to appear in every farm driveway which creates a filthy environment for pickups, equipment and ATVs.  Another problem that can also arise has to do with water getting into the basement of your home from a back up of either a sewer or drain.  Take a look at the article below from the Insurance Information Institute and check your policy to make sure it includes this optional coverage!

Sewer Backup (select the link at the bottom to read the entire article)

Backed up sewers can wreak havoc on a home, causing thousands of dollars in damage to floors, walls, furniture and electrical systems.  For homes that have been severely damaged and are uninhabitable, homeowners policies may provide Loss of Use coverage, which provides reimbursement for lodging, food and other living expenses you may incur as a result of having to live outside of your home. Loss of Use coverage also reimburses you for the lost rental income if you rent out part of the house.

via www2.iii.org

Photo Source: joanren.blogspot.com

Kristin Taylor is a farm and commercial agribusiness underwriter with the Western Region of Westfield’s AgriBusiness Division. She is located at the company’s headquarters in Westfield Center, Ohio and holds an underwriting responsibility for the states of Illinois and Iowa.