How-To Library

Many people purchase insurance for their home or farm and then neglect to periodically review their policy or reassess their insurance needs. Unfortunately, this can lead to a gap in insurance coverage and prove costly when you file a claim and discover that you are underinsured. It's a good idea to meet with your insurance agent annually or whenever there is a change to your personal life circumstances or your farming business.

For many farmers, retirement is just not something they intend to do. While the average age of a U.S. farmer continues to climb and now stands at 57.5 years, health issues may force some operators to retire or semi-retire from the day-to-day farm activities earlier then intended. A large consideration facing aging farmers or ranchers is the health care options available to them. . . and how they will pay for these services. For many Americans 65 and older, the answer is Medicare.

Nationwide's Land As Your Legacy program helps provide security to families engaged in the agricultural community so that the land and businesses that you have worked for generations will be preserved and remain a legacy for generations to come. The program customizes estate planning for farmers, ranchers and others in agribusiness.

An important part of your farm or ranch policy is the protection it offers for damage to farm or ranch buildings and structures. These buildings must be listed on your policy to be covered.

With today's rising prices, being under-insured can create a serious financial shortfall when disaster strikes. If your property is inaccurately valued, you may not have enough coverage to fully replace your lost property, damaged equipment, supplies or inventory.

Time and experience can be life-saving when it comes to rescuing a farmer or farm worker trapped in a grain bin. But many rural volunteer fire departments responding to such instances face shortened funding and sometimes little or no experience with such operations. Those shortfalls can be deadly.

Businesses have employed an evolving range of asset tracking tools to help keep track of things like equipment and product inventory since the 1960s. Today, asset tracking is readily available to farmers challenged by managing growing farm machinery and equipment lineups.

Agritourism is a great way to capitalize on the natural draw of your landscape, connect non- farm families to agriculture and create new revenue streams for your operation. But these benefits are not without risk.

During winter storms, farmers need a snow plan. It's important to keep a watchful eye on structures with considerable loads and be ready to move equipment and livestock to an alternate location. But, how do you know when there is too much snow?

Nationwide® members file claims for animal “breakouts” on their farms and ranches that total close to $8 million a year. Consider these best practices to help you keep people and animals safe on your farm or ranch.

Studies show tractors are involved in a high proportion of farm injuries and fatalities, causing productivity losses, serious injury and loss of life. Fortunately, you can prevent most accidents by staying vigilant and following a few basic tractor safety guidelines.