Simple Ways To Keep Farms Clean And Safe

Oct 24, 2019, 1:24 PM

Hastings Mutual offers insurance coverage for three audiences — business owners, families, and farms. Our relationship to farmers reaches back more than 100 years to our founding as the Michigan Mutual Tornado, Cyclone and Windstorm Company. You learned about our Farmowners policy before but that’s not all we offer to those growing crops and managing livestock.

Farms are an important part of our business. Many of our farm clients are full-time working farmers. We specialize in small to mid-size farms — defined as around or less than $10 million in property at the location.

Our Farmowners Coverage Plus policy addition offers features that are just right for those small to mid-size farmers. When your business grows, we’re there to help with an extra $1,000 in additional operating expense coverage, and coverage for property being leased or purchased under an installment plan.

Keeping the farm moving forward is a high priority on a farm of any size. To help, Coverage Plus offers up to $1,000 to remove trash and other debris after covered losses, and $500 to prevent spontaneous combustion of hay or other material. (If you’re not a farmer, you may not realize that this is a real danger: stored hay that’s not completely dried out can heat up enough to catch on fire.)

Though we’re a little past the harvest, there’s also a risk of fire in combines, especially this year after the wet, late spring planting season. Here’s what you can do to keep your combine safe.

• Blow out chaff and dust daily, more often in very dry conditions
• Pay close attention to the exhaust manifold and turbocharger
• Keep electrical wiring and components free of debris buildup

There are many other things you can do to be safe on the farm, too. Here’s a few to keep in mind this fall:

• Farm vehicles are slow and often larger than other vehicles on the road; drive carefully near them.
• Be careful when working in and around grain bins — use safety gear and proper precaution to avoid being buried or trapped in the grain pile.
• Machine guards and tag in/tag out procedures can prevent serious injuries from uncovered auger blades.

We look forward to the opportunity to protect your farm, home, and assets. Hastings Mutual Farm Coverage Plus is a great way to make sure you have the best coverage in place. Your independent insurance agent can help you find the policy that’s right for your property and business.

The Mutual Understanding blog and Hastings Mutual videos are made available for educational purposes only. The information referred to is not an official company statement, corporate policy, or offer of coverage. Refer to your insurance policy for specific coverage. There is no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of any information found by following any link on this site. Please contact your local independent insurance agent with further questions and for more details on any insurance policy-related information you read here.

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