Texas Farm & Ranch resources

Custom Baling & Harvesting: Insurance Questions

Before taking a custom baling or harvesting job, review equipment, customer property, hauling, helpers and the work agreement.

Review agribusiness insurance

Stover & Crouch Insurance · (936) 348-2688 · stovercrouch.com

Start with the job you agreed to do

Taking a tractor and baler onto a customer’s land is different from making hay for your own operation. Describe the work when you review your insurance, before the job begins.

Which jobs do you take: mowing, raking, baling, harvesting, loading or hauling?
Who owns the crop, hay and machinery while you work?
Where will you work, enter the property and store equipment?
Do you also spray, repair equipment or provide other services?

Check these four areas separately

Your machinery

Identify owned, borrowed and leased machines and where they will work. Check damage coverage, values and terms for custom work. Wear and mechanical breakdown need separate questions.

Review farm equipment insurance

Customer property and the work

Explain who owns the crop, hay and other property in your care. Ask how the policy addresses damage to customer property, work performed and faulty-work exclusions. Equipment damage and liability to a customer are separate questions.

Trucks, trailers and hauling

List drivers, vehicles, trailers and what you transport. Distinguish hauling your own machines or goods from carrying property for others.

Review commercial auto insurance

Helpers and agreements

Include employees, seasonal help, contractors and payroll by role. Bring the agreement and any insurance requirements. A certificate reports coverage; it does not create or change it.

Review workers’ compensation

Your review checklist

Check off what you have gathered. Print a copy for your insurance conversation; checked items are not saved when you leave.

Work description, locations and expected dates
Equipment list, values and ownership or lease details
Vehicles, trailers, drivers and transport arrangements
Customer property you handle or store
Workers, agreements and certificate requests
Current policies and the questions you want checked

Build your equipment inventory before the review.

A haying lease is a different arrangement

Renting land for hay production and being paid to bale a customer’s hay are different arrangements. Identify the parties, access, payment terms and responsibilities in the agreement.

The Texas A&M AgriLife haying lease checklist offers educational guidance on leases. Ask your attorney about contract wording and your insurance reviewer how the agreement relates to the policy.

For the broader operation, review agribusiness insurance.