The cropping topic has once again arisen to be widely discussed as Australia plunges into winter. The weather for winter is still uncertain and many farmers are questioning what to plant and if to plant. Crop insurance is an important part of this decision. Here we will go into the forms of crop insurance available for 2019.
This year has seen a drop in companies offering Multi-Peril Crop Insurance. This is mostly caused by the expense, poor uptake by those in the agricultural community and unfavorable claim results the last few years. Premiums for this kind of insurance can be expensive and there are set up costs to consider as historical farm financials are usually needed. This data could be time consuming and difficult for farmers to obtain.
In place of this type of insurance Single Peril weather insurance offers have been offered. This allows those farmers that are wanting to offset specific risks relevant to their situation to have increased flexibility in their crop insurance. The cost of Single Peril insurance is tailored by specific parameters made by the client.
Fire and hail insurance are currently well priced and easily obtainable, however rain and frost insurance is not. This is most likely due to the drought conditions across Victoria and New South Wales at the moment. Single Peril insurance offerings are able to be taken out 30 days prior to the risk period which increases flexibility of the product.
It can be difficult to decide what company to insure your crops with to get the ideal company for your needs. The first step would be to contact a local insurance broker who can advise you on all the current options available in the market and help you make a decision.