In our blog, Understanding Farm Combined Insurance, we explored how a tailored, all-in-one policy can offer robust protection for many of the diverse risks faced by modern farms. But while securing the right cover is a vital first step, what truly defines the value of your insurance is how it performs when you need it most.
As part of our Better Sorted Than Sorry campaign, August focuses on Preventing Claims and the practical steps farmers can take to reduce avoidable losses, minimise disruption, and protect their businesses throughout the year.
Here, we look beyond the farm combined policy to examine how these policies can react when disaster strikes. From making a claim to managing risk on the ground, this guide helps outline some of the ways farmers can respond effectively to incidents and what steps could be taken to help reduce future disruptions. Whether you’re dealing with a major loss or looking to bolster your farm’s resilience, being proactive before and after a claim can be key to protecting your livelihood.
Making a claim: what to do when disaster strikes
When something goes wrong, acting quickly and having the right support can make all the difference. At McClarrons, we understand how disruptive claims can be to your business, that’s why we have a dedicated in-house Claims Team to help.
Our claims experts work directly with insurers on your behalf, handling negotiations and queries so you don’t have to. We don’t pass you off to third parties or leave you to chase progress – we will update you of progress throughout your claim. Whether it’s a minor incident or a major loss, we’re here to help reduce stress, speed up the process wherever possible, and help you recover swiftly.
Here’s some key advice for when an incident occurs:
- Reporting an Incident: Time is critical; as we highlight in our The Importance Of Notifying Your Insurance Claim Promptly blog. Report the incident to us as soon as possible with clear, accurate information. Early notification can help prevent delays, reduce the chance of potential issues, and allows us to act swiftly on your behalf.
- Documentation is Key: Strong evidence supports a smoother process. Photos, invoices, inspection and servicing reports, vet reports, police references, or witness statements may all be beneficial, and some required, depending on the nature of the claim.
- Working with Loss Adjusters: If a loss adjuster is needed, usually when there is a high value loss, we can help manage that process – coordinating appointments, challenging valuations where required, and helping guide you towards a fair and prompt settlement.
You can contact our Claims Team directly on 01653 609153 or at claims@mcclarroninsurance.com, or visit our Claims webpage for more information.
Proactive risk management beyond your farm combined policy
Farm insurance is a safety net, but prevention is always the best protection. Preventative action can help to reduce the likelihood, severity and cost of claims – protecting both your finances and your long-term operations. Here are just some suggestions that could help strengthen your risk posture across key areas of your farm – please note this list is not exhaustive:
Farm property: preventing physical losses
- Fire Safety: Install detectors, maintain wiring, and store hay/fuel away from ignition sources.
- Storm Resilience: Inspect roofs and drainage regularly – especially before winter.
- Secure Storage: Lock buildings and install CCTV or alarms for high-value machinery where possible. Read our How Can You Protect Your Plant And Machinery From Potential Theft With Advanced Technology? blog for more thorough advice on this topic.
- Inventory Management: Keep detailed records of machinery, tools, and harvested produce, including records of services and inspections, as well as invoices.
Livestock: reducing illness, injury and loss
- Health Protocols: Maintain vaccination schedules and isolate new or sick animals.
- Safe Transport: Use proper handling systems and secure loading areas.
- Perimeter Security: Check fencing regularly and consider deterrents like lighting or cameras. You can also read our blog What can livestock owners do to prevent livestock worrying? which provides more advice on keeping your livestock safe.
- Accurate Stock Records: Tag, log and track animals to help simplify potential claims; read our Tackling The Risk Of Livestock Theft In The UK and The Importance Of Maintaining Accurate Livestock Sum Insured blogs.
Liability: lowering the risk of claims and fines
- Visitor & Staff Safety: Use signage, restrict access and provide suitable training and PPE for employees and visitors. Read our Agricultural Machinery Safety Best Practices: Keeping Workers Safe During Harvest and Agricultural Vehicle And Machinery Checklist blogs.
- Chemical Handling: Store and dispose of chemicals correctly; have spill kits on hand.
- Pollution Prevention: Maintain bunds, manage slurry, and service wastewater systems.
Contingency planning: being ready for the unexpected
- Emergency Plans: Outline responses for accidents, fire, flood, disease and equipment failure.
- Back-Up Systems: Generators and alternative supplies can reduce downtime.
- Clear Communication: Know how to contact insurers, staff, suppliers and customers swiftly during a crisis.
The importance of regular insurance reviews
As your farm develops so should your insurance. Annual policy reviews, as a minimum, are essential to check your cover reflects current operations, highlighting any gaps, overlaps, or outdated terms. Whether you’ve new buildings, increased livestock numbers, have diversified into tourism or retail, or made changes to your working practices, keeping your broker informed helps you maintain valid and effective protection. In today’s fast-changing agricultural landscape, staying up to date with emerging risks helps your policy remain not just compliant but relevant to the realities of modern farming.
Better Sorted Than Sorry
The purpose of insurance is to help protect your business when things go wrong. The purpose of our Better Sorted Than Sorry campaign is to help highlight some of the things that can be done to prevent those things going wrong in the first place.
Many claims don’t begin with major failures. They can begin with small issues that may have seemed insignificant at the time – a maintenance job delayed until next week, a security check missed at the end of a long day, or a problem that was spotted but never quite addressed.
Expert claims support when farmers need it most
By combining claims support with practical risk management, McClarrons helps clients move beyond reactive insurance to proactive protection. If you missed our first blog, Understanding Farm Combined Insurance, we recommend reading it for an overview of what this policy can include and why it matters. If you’re ready to review your current arrangements, our dedicated Farm Team is here to help, on 01653 609152 or at farm@mcclarroninsurance.com.
