Farm Liability Insurance

Potentially yes. If it can be shown that your fencing was inadequate or that you were negligent in containing your stock, you may be held liable for injuries and property damage caused by escaped animals. Claims from serious road accidents involving livestock can exceed $1M. Public liability insurance covers these claims, including legal defence costs.

Your public liability policy covers claims from contractors who are injured due to hazards on your property or your negligence. However, contractors should also carry their own public liability and workers compensation insurance. It is good practice to request certificates of currency from any contractor before they commence work on your farm.

Yes. If any product you sell causes illness, injury or allergic reaction, you could face a product liability claim. Most farmers market organisers require stallholders to hold a minimum of $10M to $20M product liability cover as a condition of participation. This cover is available as part of a farm liability or farm package policy.

Yes. Chemical spray drift that damages a neighbour's crops, livestock, water supply or property is a common farm liability claim. Your public liability policy covers compensation and legal costs, provided you were not acting in deliberate disregard of label directions or regulations. Following best practice spraying protocols helps reduce both risk and claims.

Family members who work on the farm without payment are typically covered as voluntary workers under your public liability policy. Paid family members should be covered under workers compensation like any other employee. Check your policy wording to confirm how family members are classified and whether any restrictions apply.

Public liability covers physical injury to people and damage to property. Professional indemnity covers financial loss arising from negligent advice or professional services. Most farms need public liability but not professional indemnity. However, if you provide paid consulting, agronomic advice or professional services alongside farming, professional indemnity may be relevant.

Major farm liability insurers in Australia include WFI, Elders Insurance, QBE, CGU, Zurich and Hollard. Farm liability is usually included as a section within a broader farm package policy. At Shielded, we compare options across our insurer panel to ensure your liability cover matches your actual exposure.

Australian farm insurance typically includes cover for farm buildings and structures, contents and machinery, livestock, crops, public liability, farm motor vehicles, and business interruption. Most insurers offer a farm package policy that bundles these covers together. At Shielded, we compare packages from insurers like WFI, Elders, QBE, CGU, Zurich, Hollard and others to find the right combination for your operation.

Farm insurance premiums vary significantly based on property value, location, farm type, and the covers selected. A basic hobby farm package may cost $1,500 to $4,000 per year, while a large broadacre or cattle operation could range from $5,000 to $20,000 or more. Factors like bushfire or flood risk zones, claims history, and the value of machinery and livestock all affect pricing. Request a free quote through Shielded for an accurate indication.

Crop insurance is usually an optional add-on to a standard farm package, not included by default. It protects against losses from hail, frost, fire, flood and other weather events that affect crop yield and quality. Multi-peril crop insurance (MPCI) provides broader cover but is priced based on your specific crop type, location and historical yields.

Most comprehensive farm insurance policies include cover for bushfire, storm and flood damage to buildings, contents, machinery and fencing. However, coverage limits and excesses can vary significantly depending on your property's risk rating. Properties in high-risk bushfire or flood zones may face higher premiums or specific excess levels. It is important to review your policy details and sum insured amounts regularly.

Farm liability insurance (also called public liability) protects you against claims for bodily injury or property damage caused by your farming operations. If a visitor, contractor or neighbour is injured on your property, or your livestock escape and cause damage, liability cover pays for legal costs and compensation. Most farm package policies include $10M to $20M of public liability cover as standard.

Farm machinery and equipment are typically covered under the contents and machinery section of a farm package policy. However, high-value items like harvesters, headers, tractors and irrigation equipment should be individually listed with accurate sum insured values. Portable equipment and items used away from the property may need additional cover. Review your sums insured annually as replacement costs increase.

Contact us at Shielded Insurance on 1800 97 98 99 or reach out to your insurer directly. We recommend notifying us as soon as possible after a loss event, documenting the damage with photos, and keeping records of all related expenses. Our team will guide you through the claims process.

Yes. Hobby farms and lifestyle properties can be insured under specialist rural property policies or scaled-down farm packages. These policies typically cover the dwelling, sheds and outbuildings, fencing, a small number of livestock, hobby machinery and public liability. Insurers like CGU, WFI and QBE all offer hobby farm products. Premiums are generally lower than commercial farm policies.

We compare farm insurance quotes from a wide panel of Australian rural insurers including WFI, Elders Insurance, QBE, CGU, Zurich, Hollard, Nutrien Ag Solutions and others. The best insurer for your situation depends on your farm type, location, and the specific covers you need. As brokers, we do the comparison work for you.

Review your farm insurance annually at renewal, or whenever there are significant changes to your operation - such as purchasing new machinery, building new structures, expanding acreage, adding livestock, or changing your farming activities. Building costs and machinery replacement values increase over time, so keeping your sums insured up to date is essential to avoid being underinsured at claim time.