Farm Insurance Specialists
Farm Insurance Is Different — And It Matters
A standard homeowner policy is not designed for a working farm. It won't cover your grain bins, farm equipment, livestock, or the liability that comes from farming operations. A standard commercial policy isn't designed for it either. Farm insurance is a specialized line that requires a broker who understands agricultural operations.
Hutchison Insurance Group works with carriers that specialize in agricultural risk — including Chubb Agribusiness — to build comprehensive farm programs for operations of all sizes across Missouri and the surrounding region.
Operations We Insure
Row Crop Farms
Corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, and other commodity crops.
Livestock Operations
Cattle, hogs, poultry, sheep, and mixed livestock.
Hobby Farms & Acreage
Small acreage properties with animals, gardens, or outbuildings.
Grain Storage & Elevators
On-farm grain bins, drying systems, and storage facilities.
Dairy Operations
Milking facilities, bulk tanks, and dairy herd coverage.
Agribusiness & Processing
Feed mills, grain elevators, custom farming operations.
Specialty Crops
Orchards, vineyards, vegetables, and high-value crops.
Rural Residential
Homes on acreage with outbuildings, horses, or small livestock.
Coverage Explained
Farm Coverage Types — In Plain English
Every major farm coverage type explained — from the farmhouse to the grain bins to your crop insurance.
Farmhouse Dwelling
Covers the primary residence on a farm property against fire, wind, hail, lightning, and other covered perils. Farm dwelling coverage is distinct from a standard homeowner policy and is specifically designed for rural properties. Includes the option for replacement cost coverage to rebuild without depreciation deductions.
Typically Includes:
Farm dwelling policies often include broader coverage than standard HO-3 policies for rural properties.
Farm Structures & Outbuildings
Covers barns, machine sheds, grain bins, livestock facilities, fences, corrals, and other farm structures. Coverage can be written on a blanket basis (one limit for all structures) or scheduled (each structure listed individually with its own limit). Replacement cost coverage ensures you can rebuild to current construction costs.
Typically Includes:
Blanket coverage is often more flexible than scheduled coverage for farms with many structures.
Farm Equipment & Machinery
Covers tractors, combines, planters, sprayers, tillage equipment, and other farm machinery against physical damage from fire, theft, collision, upset, and other covered perils. Can be written on a scheduled basis (each piece listed) or blanket. Includes coverage for equipment during field operations and while in transit.
Typically Includes:
Equipment values change rapidly — review your scheduled values annually to avoid being underinsured.
Grain & Livestock Coverage
Covers stored grain in bins against fire, lightning, windstorm, and collapse. Livestock coverage protects cattle, hogs, horses, and other animals against death from specified perils including fire, lightning, windstorm, and sometimes broader perils. Coverage options vary significantly by carrier.
Typically Includes:
Livestock coverage is typically written on a named-perils basis — know exactly what is and isn't covered.
Farm Liability
Covers your legal liability for bodily injury or property damage to third parties arising from your farming operations. Includes premises liability (visitors injured on your property), operations liability (injuries caused by your farming activities), and products liability (injuries from farm products you sell).
Typically Includes:
Farm liability is distinct from homeowner liability and covers farming-specific exposures.
Farm Auto & Trucks
Covers pickups, farm trucks, grain haulers, and other vehicles used in farming operations. Farm auto policies can cover both on-road and off-road use. Includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. Custom farm truck endorsements available for specialty equipment.
Typically Includes:
Farm trucks used for hauling grain commercially may require a commercial auto policy or endorsement.
Crop Insurance (MPCI)
Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) is federally subsidized crop insurance administered through the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA). Protects against yield losses from natural causes including drought, flood, hail, wind, frost, insects, and disease. Available in multiple coverage levels from 50% to 85% of expected yield.
Typically Includes:
MPCI sales closing dates are typically March 15 for spring crops in Missouri — don't miss the deadline.
Hail & Fire Crop Insurance
A standalone crop hail policy provides coverage specifically for hail and fire damage to growing crops. Unlike MPCI, crop hail policies can be purchased at any time during the growing season and pay on a per-acre basis based on the percentage of damage. Often used to supplement MPCI coverage.
Typically Includes:
Crop hail can be purchased after MPCI deadlines and provides more targeted hail protection.
Equipment Breakdown
Covers sudden and accidental mechanical or electrical breakdown of farm equipment, grain dryers, irrigation systems, and milking equipment. Standard farm policies typically exclude mechanical breakdown — this coverage fills that gap and covers repair costs and resulting income losses.
Typically Includes:
A grain dryer breakdown during harvest can cost tens of thousands in repairs and lost grain quality.
Farm Umbrella
Provides an additional layer of liability protection above your underlying farm liability, farm auto, and other liability policies. Available in $1M increments. Especially important for operations with employees, agritourism activities, or significant public exposure.
Typically Includes:
Agritourism operations (corn mazes, pumpkin patches, farm stays) significantly increase liability exposure.
Agribusiness & Custom Farming
For operations that provide custom farming services (custom harvesting, spraying, tillage) to other farmers, or that operate as an agribusiness (feed dealer, grain elevator, farm supply). Covers the additional liability and property exposures of commercial agricultural operations.
Typically Includes:
Custom farming operations need coverage for damage to customers' crops and equipment.
Rural Homeowner / Acreage Policy
Designed for rural residential properties that don't qualify as working farms but have acreage, outbuildings, horses, or small livestock. Bridges the gap between a standard homeowner policy and a full farm policy. Includes broader coverage for outbuildings and animals than a standard HO-3.
Typically Includes:
If you have horses or livestock, a standard homeowner policy likely excludes related liability.
Common Farm Coverage Gaps
These are the most frequent gaps we find when reviewing existing farm policies:
Policy Terms
Farm & Crop Insurance Glossary
Key terms every farm operator should understand.