Delaware agricultural producers who attended a special preparedness workshop in Harrington during Delaware Ag Week discovered how inadequate emergency planning could jeopardize their farming businesses.
The educational session, organized by Nationwide Insurance working alongside the Delaware Farm Bureau, focused on helping farmers develop comprehensive risk management strategies.
According to Todd Givler from Nationwide, the key lesson for participants involves taking a moment to consider potential scenarios by asking themselves a simple question: “What if?” He explained that numerous situations could impact agricultural operations, including personal injuries, extreme weather conditions, staff departures, and economic fluctuations.
The insurance company is urging agricultural producers to develop detailed response strategies for various emergency situations. Givler illustrated this concept using the example of solo farm work, prompting attendees to think about basic safety questions: “Who is your emergency contact? What happens if they don’t answer? What if you don’t have your cell phone or service? What if you’re unconscious?”
Weather-related emergencies also require advance planning, Givler noted. While farmers cannot control meteorological conditions, they can reduce potential damage through proper preparation. He recommended developing specific protocols for hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and similar catastrophic events. The insurance representative revealed that major weather disasters along the East Coast typically cost $250,000 on average, yet approximately half of all farmers adopt a reactive stance rather than proactive planning, leaving them exposed to significant financial losses.
Workshop participants received several practical suggestions, including conducting routine employee safety training, performing annual comprehensive insurance policy evaluations, and regularly assessing both professional and personal risk factors.
Givler also warned that obtaining insurance coverage is becoming increasingly difficult as worldwide markets become more restrictive. He explained that farmers who establish solid risk management protocols and safety procedures can show insurance companies they represent lower-risk clients, making policy approval easier and potentially reducing premium costs.
Additional details about the Farm Risk Ready program are available at nationwide.com/lc/resources/farm-and-agribusiness/articles/farm-risk-ready. Information about the Delaware Farm Bureau can be found at defb.org.
