Farm Property Insurance

Yes. Bushfire cover is a core component of farm property insurance, protecting the homestead, sheds, fencing, water infrastructure, contents and other improvements. Properties in designated bushfire-prone areas may face higher premiums and specific excess levels. Ensure your sums insured reflect current replacement costs, as rebuilding after bushfire is typically more expensive than original construction.

Yes. Fencing is covered against fire, storm, flood, falling trees, vehicle impact and other insured perils. Fencing is one of the most commonly underinsured assets on Australian farms. Calculate the total replacement cost of all boundary, internal and specialised fencing on your property and ensure your fencing sum insured is adequate.

Flood cover availability and terms vary by insurer and location. Some insurers include flood cover as standard, while others offer it as an option or exclude properties in high-risk flood zones. Given that many Australian farms have at least some flood exposure, confirm the flood cover position and excess levels when comparing policies.

Underinsurance is by far the most common issue. Building costs, fencing costs and equipment values have risen significantly, but many farm policies carry sums insured that were set years ago. If your sums insured are too low, your claim payment may be reduced proportionally under the policy's average clause, even for a partial loss. Review your sums insured annually.

Yes. Water infrastructure including tanks, dams, troughs, pumps, pipelines, bore equipment, windmills and irrigation systems can be insured under farm property cover. Water infrastructure is critical in rural Australia and can be expensive to replace. Ensure each item is included in your schedule with an accurate replacement value.

Yes. Theft of tools, portable equipment, fuel, chemicals and other contents is covered under most farm property policies. Rural theft is an increasing problem across Australia. Some insurers offer premium discounts for properties with good security measures such as locked sheds, CCTV, alarm systems and controlled access points.

Farm property insurance is available from specialist rural insurers including WFI, QBE, CGU, Zurich, Hollard and Elders Insurance. Each insurer has different appetite for property types, locations and natural peril zones. At Shielded, we compare options across our full insurer panel to find the most competitive farm property cover for your situation.

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.