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As rapid changes impact farming practices, insurance needs change, too. To identify and address those changes, Nationwide Insurance has worked with Ohio Farm Bureau to conduct fact-finding surveys and face-to-face meetings with Ohio farmers during the past two years.

Results of these studies helped Nationwide produce a new farmowner insurance policy for Ohio Farm Bureau members.

"Our farmowner policyholders will benefit from a completely updated farmowner product in 2003," said Jerry Hillard, farmowners insurance officer for Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance, which specializes in insuring farmers, farm cooperatives and agribusinesses. The Nationwide companies are the country’s largest writers of farm property and casualty insurance.

Hillard said the new policy contains numerous enhancements, such as coverage for breakdown of equipment installed in outbuildings, higher sub-limits on a number of personal and business-use property items and primary coverage for borrowed farm equipment.

"In addition to these upgrades, policyholders will have greater flexibility in payment plans to meet their individual needs, including frequency of installments and an option to make a down payment by credit card," Hillard added.

Current Nationwide farmowner insurance customers will receive an introductory letter about 60 days before their next farmowners policy renewal date, Hillard said. About 30 days before the renewal date, customers will receive the new policy, and a description of coverage changes.

Customers can continue to work with their current Nationwide agents on their farmowner coverages. The policies will be issued by Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company, a Nationwide company rated A+ (superior) by the A.M. Best Company.

"In addition, Nationwide Agribusiness’s team of loss control professionals can help customers focus on identifying and correcting on-farm safety hazards," Hillard said. "This value-added service will help you prevent accidents to your farm workers and your family.

"The primary focus of the Nationwide Agribusiness claims adjusters is agriculture and agribusiness losses. Our adjusters use a back-to-business approach aimed at getting you through a loss and back in operation as quickly as possible," Hillard noted.