For most of us, renewing the insurance every year on the farm, the house or the car is one of the things we least look forward to. Most consumers just want to get their insurance sorted as quick as possible – for as little as possible – so we can forget about it for another 12 months.

However, when it comes to insuring your farm, it is worth taking the time to go through your insurance policy in detail with your insurer or broker so that you understand the full extent of your insurance cover, particularly when it relates to an asset as valuable as your farm.

Insurance at the right price is important, but not all insurance policies are created equal. The spate of bad storms we’ve had in Ireland in recent years, which caused extensive damage to farm buildings and machinery, has shown the value of robust farm insurance.

The changes to our climate could mean an increase in the frequency of severe storms in Ireland, so having adequate storm cover for your farm is crucial. Falling trees and high winds can cause enormous damage to farm buildings and machinery that can be very expensive to replace or fix without insurance.

The number of farmers now employing non-family members to help out on-farm has risen sharply in recent years, particularly on dairy farms. It is critical for farmers to have comprehensive employers liability cover, in case of any accidents regarding employees.

Most of all, Irish farming needs to dramatically improve its farm safety record. Put simply, too many people are losing their lives on Irish farms every year, particularly children and the elderly. We need to reduce the risks as much as possible in order to protect these vulnerable groups and avoid unnecessary tragedies.