Market Farming

["Andy Lee & Pat Foreman" <goodearth AT rockbridge.net>]

M
>

> I found the Farm Bureau's policy to be the only one available to me here in
> California.
> I really hate that because a whole lot of us disagree with FB policies and
> are only members so we can buy the insurance.  The FB, however, doesn't
> make that distinction when they lobby.
>
> Their Farmowner's policy, the one we have, is flexible with pick and choose
> options.  This is the only way we could get equipment - tractor, spader,
> greenhouses- and liability insurance for both the property and products in
> the farmers' market covered.  Product liability is available elsewhere, but
> it's ungodly expensive.  We pick up riders to cover electronics and
> computers.
>
> Supposedly, the Grange has one, but you have to petition to join.  I found
> their local agents totally unresponsive.
>
> Marcie A. Rosenzweig
> Full Circle Organic Farm
> Auburn, CA
>

We had Farm Bureau insurance for two years in North Carolina and found them
to be nice folks to work with. However, when we moved to Virginia we found a
agent who insisted we take ALL or nothing, and some of his requirements were
outlandish, such as having to tell him every time I bought or sold a cow or
pig so he could remove it or add it to the policy, and so on. I told him to
stuff it, and went to Nationwide and got the coverage I needed. Nationwide
is $100 per year more expensive, but worth it. They carry my total insurance
package which includes general liability, homeowners, farm owners, auto,
truck, and product liability.

As I understand it, Farm Bureau was never for farmers, it was started by
the railroads, who wanted to exploit farm land in the newly settling west.
As far as I can see, Farm Bureau in general has done more than any other
national entity to squash biological farming in the US.

Andy Lee