The Road to A Good Insurance Program for SFC Members

The Small Farms Conservancy (SFC) intends to establish an affordable insurance program for farmers in North America. The SFC officers and board of directors have been discussing and strategizing about the appropriate steps to establishing an enduring and dependable insurance program. We are fortunate to have Mr. Richard Cutfield on our board of directors. Richard is a Hereford rancher as well as a retired insurance expert. He has helped us outline a path to establishing the insurance program we envision.  The following are some of the key steps:

1)         Define the group to be insured via survey

2)         Identify the insurance needs and priorities of this group. Each State has

different legal parameters

3)         Identify appropriate potential insurers

4)         Negotiate for good coverage and good rates

5)         Select the final provider(s)

6)         Finalize contracts and establish the program

7)         Sign up members and provide service

8)         Manage the program toward the best possible long term interests of our members

While we have looked ahead by identifying some of the many potential insurers, and by investigating the characteristics of insurance programs currently offered by other non-profit organizations, our most immediate hurdle is establishing the group we hope to insure. This means the SFC must have more members! We have a goal of 100,000 members but in the meantime we need sufficient numbers of potential insured. In numbers there is the negotiating power we need to provide the best possible insurance program. Toward that goal we need each and every one of you to join in our effort – to become a donor and a member of the SFC, While doing this, please also fill out and send us the insurance questionnaire (no name required) provided on the SFC web site and on the web site of the Small Farmer’s Journal. By doing this you will help us complete step 2. This is important even if you indicate you are not interested in the insurance program. We need to know what percentage of members need insurance and what insurance coverage is desired so we can find the best insurers to satisfy those needs. Once we have the membership and know the insurance needs of the group, we can forge ahead with the remaining steps. With your support and the diligent effort of SFC staff and directors, the insurance program can be a reality in a matter of months. If we are armed with data about your insurance interests, we will be in a much stronger position to negotiate good coverage and reasonable rates.

Coordinating an insurance program for independent farmers of North America is just one of many important SFC objectives. Our success depends on support from those we strive to serve. Working together we can make it happen