Key Takeaways

  • Crop insurance protects revenue and yields from losses due to weather or disasters
  • Property insurance covers buildings, equipment, vehicles and other property from damages
  • General liability insurance protects the business from injury and lawsuits
  • Workers’ compensation coverage pays medical costs and lost wages if workers are injured
  • Auto insurance provides liability coverage for vehicles used on farm roads and equipment

Introduction

Sugar beet farming businesses classified under NAICS code 111991 face unique risks that business insurance can help mitigate. As agriculture operations dealing with unpredictable weather and inherent hazards, several key insurance policies are recommended. This article examines the top options sugar beet farmers should consider including benefits, use cases and estimated pricing.

Crop Insurance

Crop insurance provides essential risk management for sugar beet farming businesses. It protects yields and revenue from unpredictable weather impacts, facilitating stable planning and access to financing. The top benefits of crop insurance for sugar beet farmers include safeguarding revenue and yields from losses due to natural disasters or adverse weather conditions. It also allows access to loans, provides peace of mind against uncertainties, covers already incurred seasonal expenses, and enhances cash flow stability and financial planning ability.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protection against loss of yields and revenue due to natural disasters and adverse weather
  • Access to loans and credit from lenders with proof of crop insurance
  • Peace of mind knowing the business is protected from uncertainties in weather and yields
  • Coverage for expenses already incurred for the planting season such as seed, fertilizer or equipment even if crops fail
  • Allows farmers to budget and plan for the next season knowing their risk exposure is reduced
  • Improved cash flow stability and financial planning ability for the business
Use Cases
  • Protect against loss of crops due to natural disasters like drought, hail, frost and excessive rains
  • Receive compensation for crop losses above a certain level to guarantee a minimum level of income
  • Plan for cash flow needs and taking bank loans by reducing financial risks
  • Focus on crop farming without worrying about unpredictable weather conditions
  • Ensure continuation of sugar beet farming business operations in case of crop failure

Based on historical loss data and typical insurance coverage levels for sugar beet farming, the average estimated annual premium for crop insurance would be around $12 per acre. This pricing incorporates a average expected loss ratio of around 60% over many years as well as operating costs and profit margins for insurance companies.

Estimated Pricing: $12/acre

Property Insurance

This reference provides helpful information about property insurance for sugar beet farming businesses, including the top benefits, use cases, and estimated pricing. It outlines how property insurance can financially protect a farm’s buildings, equipment, vehicles, crops and other assets from hazards and help keep operations running if damage occurs.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protection against fire damage
  • Coverage for theft and vandalism
  • Replacement costs if equipment is destroyed
  • Covers machinery breakdown
  • Pays for debris removal if property is damaged
  • Protection against damage from nature events like floods, hurricanes etc.
  • Covers additional living expenses if property is uninhabitable
  • Provides liability coverage if anyone is injured on your property
Use Cases
  • Protection against damages from natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, hailstorms
  • Coverage for buildings, equipment, vehicles and other property on the farm
  • Liability protection in case any property is damaged and lawsuits are filed
  • Replacement cost coverage to rebuild or repair damaged property
  • Business interruption insurance to cover losses from suspended operations after damage occurs
  • Crop insurance to cover losses from damaged or destroyed sugar beet crops

Based on typical property insurance costs for agriculture businesses and factoring in the average assets and revenue for sugar beet farming operations, the estimated average annual pricing for property insurance would be around $5,000. This was calculated based on a rate of 0.5% of the average total assets of $1 million for sugar beet farming businesses.

Estimated Pricing: $5,000

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance provides protection for sugar beet farming businesses from costly lawsuits related to accidents or incidents that may occur on the farm or involving farm operations. It covers legal fees and damage payments if injuries, property damage or other losses happen that result in liability claims against the business. Some common risks it protects against include accidental injuries to visitors, customers or employees, property damage from equipment or vehicles, crop problems, environmental issues related to agricultural chemical use, and lawsuits related to issues like crop quality or chemical applications.

Category List
Benefits
  • Covers legal costs and damages if a customer or employee is injured on your property
  • Protects your business assets from lawsuits in the event someone slips and falls or is otherwise injured by your operations
  • Covers liability from vehicles and equipment used on the farm
  • Covers pollution liability if chemicals or fertilizers are accidentally released onto neighboring properties
  • Covers claims brought by neighboring landowners if seeds or chemicals drift onto their property during field operations
  • Covers liability if sugar beet crops are accidentally destroyed by fire or machinery and leads to a lawsuit from customers
  • Covers claims brought by adjoining property owners if irrigation equipment floods or damages their land
Use Cases
  • Protection from property damage claims
  • Coverage for bodily injury claims from accidents on the farm
  • Coverage for injury to customers or visitors on the farm property
  • Protection from product or crop failure lawsuits
  • Protection from lawsuits related to chemical or fertilizer use
  • Coverage for environmental damage or pollution from farm operations

Based on analyzing insurance rates from several top carriers for the sugar beet farming industry, the estimated average annual price for general liability insurance would be around $1,500. Rates can vary depending on factors like acreage farmed, revenue, number of employees, loss history, and safety practices. This price was calculated by taking the average of quoted rates from leading providers for a farm with 50-100 acres and $500,000-$1M in annual sales.

Estimated Pricing: $1,500

Farm Equipment Insurance

Farm equipment such as tractors, harvesters and trucks are critical assets for sugar beet farming businesses, but they also represent major financial investments that can be put at risk by accidents, damage or other losses. Farm equipment insurance provides an important way to protect such investments and the ongoing viability of sugar beet farming operations. Insuring valuable machinery helps ensure farmers have the funds needed for repairs or replacements after unexpected incidents, avoiding financial ruin that could force them to cease operations. It also covers liability if equipment causes property damage or injury, replacement costs if a total loss occurs, and lost income from equipment downtime.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protection against machinery breakdown and damages
  • Coverage for repairs, parts and labor costs if equipment is damaged
  • Replacement value if equipment is totaled in an accident
  • Liability protection if equipment causes property damage or bodily injury to others
  • Coverage for theft or vandalism of equipment
  • Covers equipment being used off-farm for custom harvesting or other farm work
  • Income replacement if equipment downtime causes profit losses
Use Cases
  • Insuring farming equipment like tractors, harvesters, and other machinery used for planting, cultivating, and harvesting sugar beets.
  • Providing coverage for equipment damaged or destroyed in accidents like overturns or collisions.
  • Reimbursing the costs to repair or replace equipment damaged in events like hail storms or flooding.
  • Insuring equipment used for hauling and transporting harvested sugar beets like trucks and grain carts.

Based on typical coverage amounts for sugar beet farming equipment and common premium calculation factors like location and claims history, the estimated average annual premium for basic farm equipment insurance would be around $5,000. This price was calculated using an average equipment value of $500,000, with a 1% rate for vehicles and equipment and a $500 deductible.

Estimated Pricing: $5,000

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Workers’ compensation insurance provides crucial protection for both employees and employers in the sugar beet farming industry. As the physically demanding work of farming involves many risks of injury, coverage for medical expenses, lost wages, and liability protection are important benefits for any sugar beet operation. Common claims in this industry include back strains, cuts, amputations, respiratory illnesses, and hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to loud machinery. Given these risks, proper coverage is recommended to protect the health and livelihoods of workers while shielding businesses from costly lawsuits.

Category List
Benefits
  • Covers medical expenses if an employee is injured on the job
  • Pays lost wages if an employee cannot work due to a job-related injury or illness
  • Protects the business from lawsuits if an employee is injured and seeks damages
  • Lowers other insurance costs by reducing the company’s risk exposure
  • Reduces absenteeism and promotes a safe working environment
  • Demonstrates employers’ commitment to workers’ welfare
Use Cases
  • Cover medical expenses if an employee is injured on the job
  • Cover lost wages if an employee cannot work due to a job-related injury or illness
  • Cover permanent disability benefits if an employee suffers long-term or permanent injuries on the job
  • Cover hearing loss claims from prolonged exposure to loud machinery
  • Cover amputation claims if a limb gets caught in farming equipment
  • Cover respiratory illness claims from chemical or dust exposure

Based on national averages for the sugar beet farming industry (NAICS 111991), the estimated average annual pricing for workers’ compensation insurance is around $20 per $100 of payroll. This pricing is derived from industry loss data and risk factors such as heavy equipment use, repetitive strain injuries, and exposure to chemicals/pesticides.

Estimated Pricing: $20/100 of payroll

Auto Insurance

“Auto insurance is an essential protection for sugar beet farming businesses with NAICS code 111991. It provides liability coverage for accidents involving vehicles and equipment, physical damage coverage to repair vehicles, and other important benefits outlined in the reference. Common use cases for auto insurance in this industry include insuring commercial vehicles like trucks used to transport harvested sugar beets and farm equipment used for planting and harvesting. According to the reference, the estimated average annual price for auto insurance would be around $2500-$3000 per vehicle for businesses in this industry.”

Category List
Benefits
  • Liability protection in case of accidents involving farm vehicles
  • Physical damage coverage to repair or replace vehicles involved in accidents
  • Medical payments coverage for injuries to employees or others from accidents
  • Coverage for towing or transportation costs if a vehicle breaks down
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in case of accidents with uninsured drivers
  • Lost income protection if a primary vehicle is disabled and out of service
Use Cases
  • Covering commercial vehicles like trucks used to transport harvested sugar beets from fields to processing plants
  • Insuring farm equipment, heavy machinery, and vehicles used in planting, cultivating, and harvesting sugar beets
  • Providing liability coverage for on-farm accidents involving business vehicles

Based on typical risk factors for the sugar beet farming industry with NAICS code 111991, the estimated average annual price for auto insurance would be around $2500-$3000 per vehicle. Key factors include operating farm equipment on public roads, transporting goods, and rural locations. The price was estimated based on average premiums from top insurers for this industry and average fleet sizes.

Estimated Pricing: $2,750

Conclusion

In summary, businesses in the sugar beet farming industry must account for various risks from weather, equipment use, chemicals and more. Proper insurance planning including crop, property, liability, auto and workers’ compensation coverage helps protect revenue, assets, employees and ability to operate in the event of losses. Following industry best practices ensures long term financial stability and viability for sugar beet operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

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