Applications for Ohio Farm Bureau Health Plans now available
Members have three ways to apply: contacting a certified agent, calling 833-468-4280 or visiting ohiofarmbureauhealthplans.org.
Read More
The following information is provided by Nationwide®, the No. 1 farm and ranch insurer in the U.S.*
With the growing number of truck and vehicle fleets being maintained on today’s large farms, farmers are looking more like commercial agribusiness managers every day. While that evolution opens up new risk exposures, safety is just one of the value propositions that makes telematics a worthwhile addition to any large farm operation.
Telematics is a collection of sensors that collects vehicle operation data and displays it on a mobile app or desktop web browser. It allows you to keep track of your fleet’s operation and manage maintenance and upkeep. It also provides a view of driver behavior and helps maintain a safe, attentive workforce on the road and in the field. In short, telematics enables you to keep tabs on everything that contributes to productivity and efficiency as well as potential risk exposure.
“Telematics generates data just like farmers get from their yield monitors in the field,” said Nationwide Agribusiness Senior Risk Management Consultant Brian Hammer. “During harvest, you used to have to call the grain elevator to find out if your driver had unloaded grain yet so you could plan around the trip back to the field. With telematics, now you know where your truck is in seconds.”
Telematics can generate value in three ways:
- Production/logistics: Knowing the locations of multiple vehicles on the road can help you better manage field operations and other farm work. Telematics provides real-time location data and facilitates informed decisions on what’s next in the field or on the road. You can also get notifications when trucks move, helping confirm your drivers are on the road when they’re supposed to be and trucks aren’t moving when they’re not, like in the middle of the night.
- Safety: Telematics documents excessive speed, hard braking and sharp cornering, all of which can indicate aggressive or inattentive driving. Cameras monitor drivers’ behavior to ensure they aren’t operating carelessly or inattentively, helping you manage your workforce and provide incentives for safe operation. Fuel sensors on many telematics systems shed light on driver behavior. Rapid acceleration, for example, often causes fuel economy to decline.
- Maintenance: Sensors can alert you to any triggered engine failure codes and when it’s time to conduct routine maintenance at the optimal times. This can also help you manage operating expenses by helping minimize the likelihood of costly unexpected repairs through improved routine maintenance.
Hammer said any farmer who has multiple trucks on the road should consider how telematics can help operate more safely and efficiently.
“Telematics is common in the commercial trucking industry, and we’re taking what we have learned there and applying it to the farm,” he said. “Farmers are already accustomed to generating and managing data. Telematics is another tool to help farmers make informed decisions to improve their efficiency and productivity.”
Learn more about Nationwide agribusiness insurance, and find a Nationwide Farm Certified agent.
*A.M. Best Market Share Report 2019. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2021 Nationwide.
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Featured Articles
Ohio Farm Bureau congratulates U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan on election as minority leader
Jordan was selected by his Republican colleagues to lead the party in the U.S. House of Representatives beginning in January.
Read More
Ohio Farm Bureau supports Rep. Brown for House Ag Chair
Brown, who currently serves as vice ranking member of the committee, has built a strong working relationship with the Ohio agriculture community.
Read More
2026 Ohio Farm Bureau Federation AGGPAC Election Report
Ohio voters delivered major changes to state and federal leadership during the 2026 midterm election, with several incumbents losing their re-election bids and Democrats gaining seats across the state.
Read More
Barn quilt contest celebrates century farms
Eligible farm and ranch families have the opportunity to share their story for a chance to receive a custom handcrafted barn quilt recognizing their century operation. Enter by Jan. 31, 2027.
Read More
Farm safety vs. risk management: What’s the difference and why it matters
Farm safety and risk management are deeply interconnected, forming the foundation of a resilient and sustainable operation.
Read More