July 23, 2024 - Farming is a challenging profession, not only because there is a lot
of risk involved but also because there are big decisions to be made – like what to
plant next year and how to protect it. These decisions can be overwhelming, but crop
insurance agents can help farmers figure out what options work best for their farm.
“I like the education process of being a crop insurance agent,” said Greg Williams,
who works in Mason, Tennessee. “Farmers are so overwhelmed with what seed am I going
to plant? What chemical? [I like the] education process and really helping them
understand the protection side of it.”
Recently, we shared the stories of Tennessee farmers who rely on crop insurance, but
there’s another important group of people who help make crop insurance successful:
private-sector agents.
“I think the thing I love the most [about being a crop insurance agent] is just
working with farmers,” said Linda Freeman, a crop insurance agent in Brownsville,
Tennessee. “I’ve been in agricultural business since I was 16 years old, so that’s
all I know. And farmers are just a unique group of people.”
Before planting a crop, farmers work with private-sector crop insurance agents like
Linda to purchase a customized risk management plan that fits their unique needs.
Agents are trained and licensed professionals who know the ins and outs of available
crop insurance options, products, and policies. This individualized approach is one
of the essential strengths of crop insurance and why so many farmers utilize this
program year after year.
There is also a personal side to being a crop insurance agent. Lucas Wilds, a crop
insurance agent in Troy, Tennessee, explained that the relationship between an agent
and a farmer is more than just a business transaction: “[Crop insurance agents] are
their friends. A lot of times they’re the number one reliable source.”
And when you’re friends with your customers, looking out for their wellbeing is of
the upmost importance. “We have a big responsibility to take care of their
livelihood, take care of their income. And I don’t take that lightly,” said Claude
Callicott, a farmer and agent in Only, Tennessee.
Protecting crop insurance means protecting farmers. And protecting farmers means
protecting the food, fiber, and fuel that America depends on. “Crop insurance is
probably the most important program that we have in the whole American system,” said
Danny Flynn, Director of National Accounts for Advanced AgProtection, one of the 12
Approved Insurance Providers that sell and service crop insurance policies. “And the
reason that I make such a strong statement about that is because it’s how we feed
America. Without the American farmer, we would be struggling to have control of our
food supply.”
Credit/ Source:https://cropinsuranceinamerica.org/