The warm, dry conditions this fall can be ideal for harvest.
No rain delays. No mud to battle.
But those conditions are also perfect for fires, burning up large equipment and acres of revenue, and sometimes putting lives at risk.
Most parts of Nebraska currently have an above-average risk of fire, along with low humidity levels, dusty conditions, and little promise of rainfall in the future.
Additionally, the fire coverage included in most traditional Crop Hail and Multi-Peril insurance policies is not adequate to cover a large-scale fire.
For those reasons, we encourage farmers to consider purchasing a separate Crop Hail Fire policy Fortify Group offers through Great American Crop Insurance or Diversified Crop Insurance, policies that provide valuable coverage for a low investment.
The policies cost between $.15-$.25 per $100 of coverage. That means an insurance premium of as little as $180 will insure roughly 150 acres of land, providing $800 of coverage per acre.
“Most of our customers carry traditional Crop Hail insurance, which covers $150-$250 an acre in the event of a fire. And multi-peril insurance generally will only cover fires caused by nature,” said Joe Kamler, co-owner of Fortify Group. “So it’s not going to cover your combine fire that burns your field, or if a neighbor’s fire spreads to your field. It would be a mistake for a producer to think ‘I’ve got multi-peril. It covers fire.’”
The policy requires a 24-hour waiting period between its purchase and the time it takes effect. Coverage will expire in mid-December and will not automatically renew.
“The last time this policy was widely used was in 2012 when drought conditions posed similar risks as we have now. It can really be a difference-maker for a farming operation,” Kamler said.
For more information, contact your Fortify Group agent at our Shickley, Geneva, or North Platte offices:
Geneva: 402.759.3300
Shickley: 402.627.2055
North Platte: 308.221.6962
Tips on reducing fire risks during harvest:
https://www.farmprogress.com/harvest/practicing-fire-safety-harvest
https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2019/practicing-fire-safety-harvest
