By July, Montana farms and ranches are in full swing—livestock are grazing, hay is getting cut, and crops are pushing toward harvest. But mid-summer also brings higher risks: hailstorms, wildfires, equipment breakdowns, and heat stress can quickly turn a productive season into a costly one.
Whether you’re raising cattle, wheat, alfalfa, or all three, this is the perfect time to take stock of your insurance coverage and make sure your operation is protected through the peak of summer and beyond.
- Watch the Skies: Hail and Storm Coverage
Montana’s wide-open skies are beautiful—but they also bring summer storms that can damage crops, barns, equipment, and fencing. If you haven’t reviewed your crop-hail coverage yet, now’s the time.
Why it matters:
- Federal crop insurance often doesn’t fully cover hail damage
- Crop-hail policies can be purchased per acre for your most at-risk fields
- Deductibles and coverage limits are customizable
- Fire Risk Is Real—And Rising
Dry fields and lightning strikes can quickly spark wildfires. Whether you own hundreds of acres or operate a small family ranch, protecting your property from fire damage is essential.
Check these areas of your policy:
- Farm property coverage for barns, shops, fencing, and hay storage
- Equipment protection for tractors, balers, and combines
- Livestock coverage for accidental death caused by fire or smoke
- Kep Equipment Working (And Covered)
When your machines are your livelihood, a breakdown can mean lost time and income. That’s why mid-season is the right time to double-check your equipment insurance.
Coverage can include:
- Damage from fire, theft, or collision
- Breakdown protection for irrigation pivots, tractors, and swathers
- Replacement cost or actual cash value options
- Don’t Overlook Livestock Coverage
Livestock losses can happen fast in the summer heat—especially from dehydration, disease, lightning, or predators.
Livestock insurance can help with:
- Accidental death caused by fire, transit, or severe weather
- Scheduled coverage for high-value animals (like bulls or show stock)
- Livestock risk protection (LRP) to hedge against price fluctuations
- Revisit Liability and Umbrella Protection
Summer brings increased traffic on rural properties—from delivery drivers to neighbors and custom harvesters. A single accident could result in a costly lawsuit.
Ask your agent about:
- Farm and ranch liability coverage
- Umbrella insurance for additional protection over your base policy
- Event liability if you’re hosting gatherings, clinics, or 4-H activities
Miles City to Terry to Forsyth, we’re proud to serve the farmers and ranchers who keep Montana growing. Our team understands the local risks and offers tailored coverage for your fields, livestock, equipment, and operation.
Let’s schedule a mid-summer check-in to review your current policy and identify any gaps—so you can focus on the work ahead with confidence.