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Crop of Controversy

A relentless drought, tenacious wildfires, extreme weatherover the past year, all of these have plagued the U.S. agricultural business, leading to lingering uncertainty for farmers and the agents and brokers that serve them.

By Claire Schuster | Updated on April 30, 2013
A relentless drought, tenacious wildfires, extreme weather—over the past year, all of these have plagued the U.S. agricultural business, leading to lingering uncertainty for farmers and the agents and brokers that serve them.

Last year’s extreme weather conditions have seriously impacted U.S. agribusiness and, in turn, the economy at large. The strength and success of this industry plays into the nation’s economic landscape, from food costs to insurance premiums. More than just weather or soil affect how a farm operates—the larger national economy and legislative action affects how farmers produce and protect their products.

Crop insurance agents are busy with farmers year-round, sometimes meeting with their customers four to five times a year just to develop policies, said Mike Gaynier, principal owner and agent of Michigan-based Spartan Insurance Agency, who has been a crop insurance agent since 1983.

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