In order to protect your farm during harvest, it is essential to have a plan in place. While this time of year can be stressful, it doesn’t have to be if you have proper procedures and safeguards established. Making sure you have the right insurance coverage will also provide some peace of mind.
No matter the type of farm you run, every operation should have practices to protect you, your employees, your equipment, and your crops.
How to Protect You & Your Employees
The first step to making sure your harvest is successful is making sure you and your workers stay safe. Provide your employees with the proper training to use farm equipment safely and basic first aid training in case there is an accident.
Even though harvest time has a narrow window, no one is an effective employee if they are not properly fueled. Every worker should be given available time to:
- Take breaks
- Cool down in hot weather
- Eat meals
- Sleep
Without these essentials, you and your employees are more likely to make mistakes and put yourselves in danger.
It is also important to provide your employees with proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when harvesting crops or working on machinery. This includes (but is not limited to):
- Safety glasses
- Goggles & face shields
- Dust masks & respirators
- Earmuffs & earplugs
- Gloves
- Closed-toed shoes & safety boots
- Body suits
It is also a good idea to advise your employees to wear clothes that fit close to the body; baggy clothing can lead to dangerous exposure to machinery.
How to Protect Your Equipment
Many accidents with machinery are easily avoidable. Here are a few tips to protect both your equipment and you from harm while using it:
- Whenever machinery is not being used, turn it off.
- Do not unplug anything while the machine is still running.
- Do not work on the machine while it is running.
- Run regular maintenance checks.
- Clean equipment regularly.
You also will likely move your equipment from one farm location to another throughout the harvest season. While driving large machinery on public roads, make sure you have the correct lighting and signage to alert surrounding drivers. Avoid traveling after sunset or at heavy traffic times to prevent mishap.
How to Protect Your Crops
The overarching goal of every harvest is to have an abundant yield. There are multiple ways to do this, starting with harvesting at the appropriate time and maturity of the crop. Make certain that you are educated on maturity standards for each of your crop types. See University of Idaho’s agricultural page to learn more about your specific crop.
A regular threat to harvest in Idaho is fire. Following appropriate fire prevention procedures with harvesting equipment could save you and your farm from dangerous and expensive emergencies. It is always a smart move to:
- Park in a shed each day after harvesting if possible; if parking in the field, avoid parking on or near dry vegetation.
- Blow leaves, chaff, and plant materials from engine area.
- Prior to refueling, turn off the machine and wait for 15 minutes to reduce the risk of spilled fuel igniting.
- Keep a fire extinguisher in the cab of your machine.
- Keep your phone handy in case of a fire.
Once harvest is completed, make sure you are storing your crop appropriately as well. Again, the type of storage you use depends on the needs of individual crops, and University of Idaho can help you learn more about how to be effective with each crop’s storage.
Do You Have the Right Coverage?
Having the right insurance coverage can also give you peace of mind during harvest season. Your equipment, acreage, buildings, and employees should be listed on your farm policy properly to protect you against the unexpected.
If you have questions about what is and is not covered on your farm, talk to your insurance agent. Your agent can review your policy with you and change anything that is no longer current.
Real-Life Example: How Farm Insurance Can Help
Imagine that while you are harvesting barley on a hot afternoon, chaff accumulates around the combine’s engine compartment. The engine overheats, and a small fire starts. The fire spreads quickly across the dry vegetation, and it burns up the combine.
When you file a claim with your insurance, your coverage may help pay for:
- Repair or replacement of the damaged combine
- Damage to the barley crop
- Damage to nearby farm property, such as fences, buildings, etc.
Coverage depends on what items are listed on your policy for property, limits, and covered perils. This is one reason why you should make sure your policy is regularly updated with all your current property. Check that your limits are appropriate to the worth of your property.
Frequently Asked Questions
If my renewal has already passed, can I add equipment to my policy? Yes. Equipment can be added or removed from the policy at any point in the policy period with the help of your agent.
Does my policy cover equipment breakdown? Possibly. It depends on whether the equipment is heavy machinery, refrigeration systems, pivots, wheel lines, or other equipment. Mobile machinery breakdown is often not covered, but other types of mechanical malfunctions are.
Is my rented harvesting equipment covered? It could be! This equipment can be added to your policy when you are using it and removed when you no longer need it covered.
If my employee is injured on the job, could they come after me? Possibly. Injured employees are generally entitled to benefits under state worker’s compensation laws. You should ensure that your employees are properly covered under a worker’s compensation policy to provide the best protection in case of an employee injury. Many insurance policies exclude employee injuries from coverage under liability policies. You should review your policy to ensure you have the right coverage for non-employee injuries.
Could my agent come out to my farm to tell me what coverage I need? Absolutely! Our agents often travel to farm sites in order to tour farm properties with customers, and this helps them get firsthand perspective on the personalized coverage that you may need.
Final Takeaway
While there are many moving parts of the harvesting process, your insurance doesn’t have to be one of them. We are here to provide financial peace of mind where you can rest assured that if the worst should happen, you have a plan already in place.
A local agent can help to ensure that your policy is ready for this season’s harvest. Contact us today to get your coverage reviewed.
External Resources: University of Idaho: Publications
Disclaimer: The information included here is designed for informational purposes only. It is not legal, tax, financial or any other sort of advice, nor is it a substitute for such advice. The information may not apply to your specific situation. We have tried to make sure the information is accurate, but it could be outdated or even inaccurate in parts.
