Dairy farm insurance that protects the herd, the milk, and the operation.

It depends on herd size and value, parlor and equipment value, payroll and crew size, acreage and feed inventory, and loss history. Small pasture dairies may pay a few thousand a year; large parlor operations with high-value registered stock and significant equipment run considerably more. We quote your actual operation in about 15 minutes — never a generic estimate.

Only if livestock mortality is specifically scheduled. A standard farm-owner policy covers buildings and liability but pays little or nothing for the death of animals. Livestock mortality insurance is what covers the herd against death from disease, accident, disaster, and theft.

Named-peril (limited) mortality pays only for death from specific listed causes — fire, lightning, certain accidents. Full (broad) mortality covers death from almost any cause, including disease. Full mortality costs more but is what most dairies want for valuable milking cows and registered breeding stock.

It can, but only if they're properly scheduled and valued. Many farm policies cap or exclude specialized equipment, or pay actual cash value with heavy depreciation. We schedule parlors, bulk tanks, and chillers at replacement cost so a loss doesn't leave you underinsured.

Not under a standard property policy. Milk and product spoilage from equipment breakdown requires an equipment-breakdown endorsement (often called boiler & machinery) with a spoilage component. Without it, a chiller failure that ruins a full bulk tank is an uncovered loss.

Often yes. If you bottle, process, sell raw milk, direct-market, or produce cheese or other dairy products, product liability covers bodily-illness and recall claims from contaminated or mislabeled product. Even dairies shipping to a co-op can be named in a downstream foodborne-illness claim.

Standard farm and general liability policies exclude pollution. Manure storage, lagoon failure, nutrient and fertilizer runoff, and chemical leaks need dedicated pollution/environmental liability — which we place specifically for dairies.

In most states, yes — workers' comp is required once you have employees, and dairy work is high-hazard. Animal handling, parlor slip and crush injuries, equipment and PTO incidents, and chemical exposure all make proper workers' comp essential. We class-code dairy labor correctly.

Dairy operations carry several codes — milking and herd workers, feeding and field crews, equipment operators, and office staff. Correct classification matters: wrong codes mean overpayment, undercoverage, and audit surprises. We assign codes to your actual workflow.

Vehicles used on public roads — milk tankers, feed and commodity trucks, pickups, and tractors in transit — need commercial auto. Farm auto forms often limit or exclude over-the-road trucking and hired/non-owned use. We coordinate auto with your inland marine and transit coverage.

Only with the right coverage in place. The barn is covered under farm property, but the animals lost are covered under livestock mortality — and only up to their scheduled value. A barn fire is one of the most common ways dairies discover their stock was undervalued.

Agri-tourism, farm tours, petting zoos, and on-farm events add premises-liability exposure that standard farm policies often exclude or under-limit. General liability with an agri-tourism endorsement covers visitor injuries — tell us if you host the public.

Livestock mortality claims are paid against records — animal ID, breed, value, and sometimes vet history. Incomplete records mean delayed or reduced payments. We help you document the herd properly up front so a claim is paid quickly and at full value.

Yes. Registered, show, and high-genetic animals carry values far above grade cattle and must be insured individually on their merit. Standard mortality pays a flat rate; we schedule high-value animals at their real worth.

Yes. Organic dairies carry the premium value of certified stock and feed, and pasture-based and seasonal dairies have different equipment, labor, and feed profiles. We tailor the program — including organic feed and certified-stock values — to how you actually farm.

Yes. Contractors Choice Agency is licensed in all 50 states and has markets for dairy operations whether your farm is in Wisconsin, California, the Northeast, or anywhere in between.

Typically 15 minutes on a call. For larger programs with high-value stock or significant equipment we may need a day or two to involve the right markets, but we move fast and tell you the timeline up front.

Often yes. We have admitted and excess-and-surplus (E&S) markets for dairies declined over manure exposure, a prior barn-fire or mortality loss run, OSHA citations, or other issues. Bring us what you have and we'll find a path.

Usually yes. Bundling livestock mortality, property, equipment & spoilage, workers' comp, pollution, and auto into one coordinated program closes gaps between policies and is almost always cheaper and cleaner than separate policies from separate carriers.