New Policy Protects Dairies Against Environmental Lawsuits

New Policy Protects Dairies Against Environmental Lawsuits

Susan Allen
Susan Allen
I'm Susan Allen with Washington Ag Today. There has been a rash of dairies and feedlots targeted by environmental groups over perceived groundwater contamination. Farm families that produce the milk we drink, the ice cream, yogurt and cheese we love, are extremely venerable to being financially destroyed when targeted by well-funded environmental groups. I spoke with Brett Koch of Guide Insurance Services about a new policy that offers protection from environmental lawsuits.

Koch: We have a new product that just came into the market not even a year ago that allows for nitrate levels, as you know nitrates are naturally occurring and a good thing, it's what makes your crops grow. In the Yakima area when they were fined, it was for "excess" of nitrate levels, so since nitrate is naturally occurring and it's always there, your traditional pollution policies would never cover it. This policy we are currently working with and selling will cover it on a pre-existing condition as long as the numbers are under ten parts per million they will extend coverage back and cover the nitrate levels. So in your slow release, manure lagoons if you have excessive nitrate levels above the ten parts per million after the insurance took place you would be covered for that.

Brett explained that the policy protects farmers from the legal cost of defending themselves and has been defended in Wisconsin against similar environmental lawsuits and prevailed. To learn more about this new protection for dairies, feed lots and other farm applications email Brettk@GuideInsuranceservices.com 360-354-3300

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