Farm Combined

A farm combined policy brings several types of cover together under one policy. Depending on the type of your farm, it may include farm buildings, contents, machinery, livestock, produce, business interruption, legal liabilities, money, goods in transit and personal accident cover. The exact cover, limits and exclusions vary, so the policy should be tailored to the way your farm operates.

We will usually ask about your farming activities, acreage, buildings, machinery, vehicles, livestock, employees, wages, turnover, diversification activities, security arrangements, previous claims and the values or sums insured you require. Having an up-to-date asset list and details of any contractors or additional businesses will help us recommend suitable cover.

Employers’ liability helps protect you if an employee is injured or becomes ill because of their work and is generally a legal requirement where a farm employs people, subject to limited exemptions. Public liability covers claims from members of the public or other third parties for injury or property damage connected with the farm. Products liability covers claims arising from products you sell or supply, such as food, livestock or other farm produce.

Not automatically in every case. Activities such as holiday accommodation, farm shops, renewable energy, event hosting, contracting, storage or livery can introduce risks that fall outside standard farming cover. Tell us about every business activity carried out on the farm so we can check whether it can be included in the farm policy or needs separate specialist cover.

Business interruption insurance can help replace lost income and cover certain additional costs while the farm recovers from an insured event, such as serious damage to buildings or equipment. Cover depends on the cause of the interruption, the selected indemnity period and the policy terms, so sums insured should reflect how long the business could realistically take to return to normal.

Contact us our in-house claims department as soon as possible and take reasonable steps to prevent further loss or damage, provided it is safe to do so. Keep photographs, invoices, estimates, receipts and details of what happened, including dates and any people involved; for theft, malicious damage or certain accidents, you may also need a police or incident reference number. Do not admit liability or agree a settlement with a third party before speaking to the insurer.

Your policy may cover your legal liability as the farm owner, but it will not necessarily cover a contractor’s work, equipment or negligence. Check that contractors have suitable public liability and, where relevant, employers’ liability insurance, and keep evidence of their cover. Tell us about regular or higher-risk contracting arrangements so we can check whether your own policy needs to be extended.

Public liability insurance can cover legal liability if a visitor, customer, contractor or other member of the public is injured, or their property is damaged, because of your farming activities. It can also help with associated legal costs, subject to the policy terms and limits. It does not normally cover injury to employees, which is dealt with under employers’ liability insurance.

Often, yes. A farmhouse can frequently be included alongside the farm’s commercial property, but the insurer will need to understand how it is occupied and whether any part is used for business, let to others or used for holiday accommodation. Contents, valuables, alternative accommodation and liability cover should also be reviewed to make sure the household protection is suitable.

Environmental liability insurance can help cover certain clean-up costs, legal liabilities and restoration expenses arising from gradual pollution or environmental damage. Examples may include fuel or chemical spills, escape of slurry, contaminated run-off or damage to protected habitats. Standard public liability or property insurance may not cover every environmental incident, so the need for specialist cover depends on the farm’s activities, storage arrangements and surroundings.

Reinstatement cover is generally intended to pay the cost of rebuilding or replacing damaged property with a new equivalent, subject to the policy terms and an adequate sum insured. Indemnity cover takes account of the property’s age, condition and wear and tear, so the settlement may be lower. Using an inaccurate basis or an insufficient sum insured can leave you with a shortfall after a claim.

Yes, as Brokers we need to know about every diversification activity, even if it is seasonal, newly launched or operated by another business from the farm. Undeclared activities may not be covered and could affect a claim, while early notification allows the insurer to confirm whether the activity can be added to the existing policy or needs separate specialist insurance.