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december 2014
1 Insurance Considerations for Farmers Negotiating Cash Rent Contracts
4Check Out EZ AgSM Mobile
5Farmers Still Investing in
Grain Storage
7Resources Farmers Use to
Make Purchase Decisions
4 Help Us Save Lives in 2015: 9
Now Easier to Enter Farm
Grain Bin Safety Week
Submissions
a resource for
Agribusiness farm
agency partners
WE STAND FOR
you.®
12New People, Promotions
Best Wishes to You and Yours
for a Safe and Joyous
Holiday Season!
AGVISOR
december 2014
In many parts of the
Insurance considerations for
farmers negotiating cash rent
contracts
country, December/
January is typically the
time of year when farm
leases are signed for the
coming year.
With declining crop prices
projected to continue to
go lower in 2015, it may be
reasonable to anticipate
cash rents for crop land in
the Midwest will decrease
as well. Many farmers will be
taking a closer look at price
negotiations on their leases for
the coming term.
If cash rents do decrease in
2015, this will be a reversal
of the trend over the last 10
years. With increasing farm
profitability over the last
several years, we’ve also seen
a steady increase in amounts
paid for cash rent. The 2014
national average of $136 per
acre has almost doubled since
2003 when the average was
$73 per acre.
While these are national
averages, those figures will
vary dramatically by state.
Average cash rent in 2014 runs
from a low of $31.50 per acre
in Montana to an average high
of $280 in California. Irrigated
cropland rental values are even
higher with highest averages
paid on the central coast of
California where the 2014
average is $1,240 per acre.
In many parts of the country,
December/January is typically
the time of year when farm
leases are signed for the
coming year. However, in
warmer areas of the country
with less seasonal impact or
with double cropping, this may
not be the typical timing.
Having an understanding of
when cash rent agreements
are negotiated in your
local markets may be good
opportunities for farm agents.
It’s a great time to visit with
your tenant farm policyholders
about their farm operations
and use of tenant practices
to be sure their insurance is
structured properly. Here are
topics to explore with these
clients.
Insured locations
A farmer or rancher can
schedule any locations on
which farm operations are
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AGVISOR
December 2014
Cash rent contracts (cont.)
You and your farm clients
may want to closely
review any terms of the
lease as they apply to
assumption of risk.
conducted as a location on
the policy- both owned and
leased. When locations are
scheduled, the policy provides
liability protection for incidents
arising on scheduled property.
Blanket Acreage Endorsement
Farmers or ranchers with
large acreages or who make
frequent changes to the
locations that are being
farmed during the policy term
may want to consider the
Blanket Acreage endorsement.
That form provides liability
coverage at all locations
where farming operations are
conducted without the need
for individually listing those
locations.
Farm agents should use
caution about using a Blanket
Acreage endorsement. For a
smaller farm and one that is
going to operate on the same
land throughout the year, the
additional premium charge for
use of the Blanket Acreage
endorsement can be avoided
by listing each location. This
should include both owned
and leased acreages.
Assumption of risk
You and your farm clients
may want to closely review
any terms of the lease as
they apply to assumption
of risk. Many leases contain
an indemnification provision
that requires the tenant to
indemnify or hold harmless
the lessor in the event of a
liability claim arising out of
the leasehold. While the policy
excludes liability assumed
by contract (unless it would
have existed in the absence
of the contract), it makes
an exception of “insured
contracts” which, by definition,
include leases. So if there is
an indemnification provision
in the lease, the tenant’s
policy would provide liability
protection as well as attorney
fees and litigation expenses.
Property coverage
Generally, as a tenant, the
farmer who is renting land or
structures does not provide
property coverage. That
property would be insured
through the lessor’s property
coverage form. However, some
limited provisions are available
in the tenant’s policy that
provide some coverage.
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AGVISOR
December 2014
Cash rent contracts (cont.)
Unless leases provide a
duty to insure property,
tenant farmers would
normally not have an
insurable interest and
so would not need
to provide property
coverage.
Improvements and
Betterments
The AgriChoice® property form
specifically provides coverage
for farmers’ interests in
improvements or betterments
they have made at their own
expense to a rented building.
A tenant farmer who does
not have any owned covered
structures (so is not carrying
any property coverage
(Coverage G) would still have
an extension off of Coverage F
(Unscheduled Farm Personal
Property). In this case, 10
percent of the Coverage F
limit would provide coverage
for those improvements and
betterments to rented farm
buildings.
Rented or Leased Farm
Machinery or Equipment
When farm machinery
or equipment is covered
under Coverage E or F, the
AgriChoice form provides
coverage for up to $100,000
for loss or damage to rented
or leased machinery or
equipment. By endorsement
(FP 705 50), the limits can
be increased and primary
coverage for rented or leased
equipment may be available.
Under either the property
or liability form, the damage
must be the result of fire or
lightning, explosion, or smoke
or smudge caused by sudden,
unusual and faulty operation
of a heating or cooking unit.
Because the lessor must
prove fault and legal liability,
the policy would also pay
attorney’s fees and cost of
defense should that become
necessary.
Scheduling a Tenant Structure
If tenant farmers need firstparty property coverage on
rented buildings, silos or other
structures, they would need to
have those structures listed as
insured buildings and provide
coverage under Coverage G.
Fire Legal Liability
While the tenant farmers
policy does not provide
property coverage for
structures that tenant farmers
rent, the AgriChoice form does
offer at-fault coverage for fire
<
damage to a rented building if
it is the result of the insured’s
own negligence. This can
be scheduled as a property
coverage on Coverage G
or the Liability policy form
also provides a limit of up to
$100,000 to cover at-fault fire
damage to a leased structure.
Unless leases provide a duty to
insure, tenant farmers would
not have an insurable interest
and so would not need to
provide property coverage.
But if leases do provide a duty
to insure, then farmers could
insure the structures just as
if they were one of their own
buildings. Of course, premiums
would apply accordingly.
page 3
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AGVISOR
We can help save lives.
Please join us for Grain
Bin Safety Week 2015
and help us get the
message out.
GrainBinSafetyWeek.com
December 2014
Help us save
lives in 2015
Check out
EZ AgSM
Mobile!
Have you checked out this
exciting new mobile app for
farm customers?
It’s easy! Click here to find EZ
Ag in the Apple Store or in
Google Play!
Customers with Nationwide®
farm policies can use EZ Ag to:
• Pay insurance bills
• Start claims
High crop yields combined with
below-normal temperatures
and a wet harvest in 2014 have
farmers and other grain handlers
working with less-than-ideal
corn and beans. Experts are
projecting the deadliest year for
grain engulfments since 2010.
In 2010, 59 entrapments were
recorded, resulting in 26 deaths
-- the highest number on record.
• View farm accounts
• Connect with you, their
agent
Customers must be registered
on Member Center to get
access. They can do this
from the app if they haven’t
previously registered.
New functionality is planned for
2015, so keep watching as we
make this tool a “must have” for
all farm customers!
For information about how
you can promote EZ Ag Mobile
to your customers, go to
FarmAgentResource.com and
click on the EZ Ag Mobile tab at
the top of the page!
During our 2015 Grain Bin Safety
Week, the focus will be to get
more grain rescue tubes into the
hands of first responders around
the country. The chances of
surviving a grain bin engulfment
are greatly increased if a rescue
tube is available quickly.
We are reaching out asking
people to nominate local
fire departments and first
responders to win free rescue
tubes along with critical training
on how to use them.
We hope you’ll participate
with us. Get more information
about daily events, how you
can help us promote GBSW,
partnership opportunities, and
how to nominate your local
first responders, at the website:
GrainBinSafetyWeek.com.
We can help save lives. Please
join us in the effort to get the
message out.
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AGVISOR
december 2014
Farmers still investing in
grain storage
Many farmers are storing
a larger percentage of
their crop, waiting rather
than selling when prices
are at their lowest.
With grain prices continuing
to soften and the outlook for
challenging profitability in
crop production projected to
continue for the foreseeable
future, some economists
are advising farm and ranch
operators be conservative
about capital investments and
expenditures. This is a reversal
of the last several years’ trend
in which record farm profits
led to more investments in
equipment, buildings and land
purchases.
One capital investment
farmers are not being advised
to forego is bin construction
and adding storage capacity.
The recent large harvest,
prior year carryover, and rail
backlogs through much of
the Cornbelt have resulted in
a sharp decline in commodity
prices. So, many farmers are
storing a larger percentage of
their crop, waiting rather than
selling when prices are at their
lowest.
An increasing focus on grain
identity preservation also
adds to the need for storage.
With some consumer groups
pushing for GMO labeling, and
with the focus on trait-specific
production, there is a greater
need for segmentation in
storage capacity.
The USDA reports farm
storage capacity has increased
from 11 billion to 13 billion
bushels in the last 10 years.
GSI (Grain Systems Inc.,
Assumption, IL) one of
the largest steel grain bin
manufacturers in the world,
has reported an uptick in bin
sales. Building increases have
also been reported in the
Northern Plains (the Dakotas,
Minnesota, Wisconsin).
Not only are more bins being
built, bin size is also increasing.
In the 1990s, the average bin
capacity was in the 10,000 to
20,000 bushel range. Today’s
new construction averages
a 20,000 to 40,000 bushel
capacity.
By discussing farmers’
construction and upgrade
plans during On Your Side®
reviews, you can ensure they
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AGVISOR
december 2014
Grain storage (cont.)
By discussing farmers’
construction and
upgrade plans during
On Your Side® reviews,
you can ensure they are
properly insuring not just
the structures but also
the grain stored inside.
are properly insuring not just
the structures but also the
grain stored inside.
Construction
As an extension to Coverage
G (Farm Structures and
Outbuildings), Nationwide’s
AgriChoice® farm policy
provides up to $250,000
for new construction for a
period of 60 days from the
date construction materials
are delivered to the site. Farm
customers should be advised
to let you know as soon as
construction begins so you
can be sure they are properly
insured before the end of
that period. Keep in mind the
coverage extension is for Basic
Causes of Loss. If other peril
groups are needed, farmers
will need to schedule that new
structure.
Scheduling Stored Grain
This is also a good time
to discuss coverage for
stored grain with your farm
customers. If your farmers are
planning to store their grain
for a longer period of time,
they may want to consider
scheduling coverage for that
grain. The AgriChoice policy
has a provision for scheduling
stored grain for coverage
under Coverage E from Basic
Causes of Loss. If farmers
choose not to schedule, they
will not have coverage under
their Blanket (Coverage F),
although it can still be added
by endorsement.
<
Grain Valuations
Don’t forget to discuss
the valuations your farm
customers are carrying on
their grain. If these valuations
have not been reviewed
recently, with the volatility in
commodities markets, these
farmers may not be properly
insured.
With the recent decline in
grain prices, farmers may
be insuring at a higher value
than is needed. If you are
prospecting a farmer who
has not had his/her insurance
program reviewed for several
years, this farmer may be
under insured.
Peak Season Endorsement
Another option to consider
offering is the Peak Season
endorsement. If farmers’
storage patterns are changing
or have changed, it may make
sense for them to consider
the time periods and values
offered for peak seasons.
page 6
>
AGVISOR
december 2014
Resources farmers use to
make purchase decisions
The survey indicates
that while farmers are
adopting new digital
technologies, this has not
been at the expense of
traditional channels.
When your agency makes
marketing investments, you
want to be sure you’re using
those dollars in the most
efficient and effective ways to
reach prospective customers.
A survey released by the Agri
Media Council of the American
Business Media Association
may provide some helpful
insight into the information
sources trusted by your farm
customers.
The survey was mailed in
November and December
2013 to 3,700 farmers and
ranchers representing a broad
range of commodity groups.
Respondents were selected to
meet minimum acreage/head
requirements (e.g. 250+ acres
corn; 100+ head cow/calf, etc).
Respondents indicated they
were owners, operators or
managers of farms or ranches.
Highlights from the survey
include:
• While there is definitely a
movement toward digital
media, responses indicate
that the ag market is slower
in adoption and is behind
other professional markets
in usage of smartphones,
tablets and similar devices.
Fifty-four percent of survey
respondents indicated
they were not using a
smartphone. However,
respondents to this study
also agree this is rapidly
changing.
• The use of media in
agriculture indicates that
while users are adopting
new digital technologies,
this has not been at the
expense of traditional
channels.
• When asked to name the
information source they
consult at least weekly, by
far the leading response
was “ag magazines or
newspapers” followed
in order by general daily
newspapers and ag radio
broadcasts. Only 12 percent
said they consult social
media.
(continued on next page)
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AGVISOR
december 2014
Resources farmers use (cont.)
Consulting with the
retailer or dealer
is clearly the most
important information
source when entering the
final stages of the buying
process.
• Larger income farmers/
ranchers and younger
operators were the most
likely to be categorized
as digital users (those
who indicate using at
least one digital medium
weekly). Thirty-five percent
of farmers with annual
incomes in excess of $1 million
consulted ag-related apps
using mobile devices (see
article on Nationwide®’s EZ
AgSM Mobile app).
• Even among those who
were categorized as “digital
users,” a marked preference
for traditional media was
noted. Eighty-three percent
of survey respondents
consult ag newspapers and
periodicals weekly.
• When asked to name
the top sources from
which they learned
about new ag products,
services and suppliers,
leading responses were in
order: ag magazines or
newspapers followed by ag
dealers or retailers.
• When asked to name
the top sources they rely
on the most to validate
purchasing decisions, the
leading response was ag
dealers or retailers.
• In the early stages of
product purchase decisionmaking, a wide array of
media types are consulted
<
with print media being the
top resource used.
• In the second stage of
the buying process, when
researching information
on a new product or
service, the survey
indicated farmers are
likely to access specific
product information like
on websites and from
supplier or manufacturer
publications.
• Consulting with the retailer
or dealer is clearly the most
important information
source when entering the
final stages of the buying
process.
Advertising in traditional
media such as newspapers
and radio will keep the
awareness of your agency and
its commitment to the farm
community in mind as farmers
and ranchers begin the
process of seeking information
for their farm insurance needs.
A robust agency website can
provide a source for more indepth information about your
agency, expertise, staff and
products you offer as these
prospects get deeper into the
purchasing decision process.
But face-to-face interaction
with a trusted local agent
continues to be the key to
closing the sale.
page 8
>
AGVISOR
december 2014
Now easier to enter
farm submissions!
We’ve introduced several
new functions in the
fourth quarter that will
streamline the quote
entry process.
We’ve made some updates
to the way farm agents quote
farms on the Agent Center.
Plus, we’ve expanded our
capacity to track customer
affinity/program relationships
on farm accounts. These
enhancements to the system
are intended to make it
easier for you to enter quote
information as well as make
it possible for us to track
multiple affinity/program
relationships on farm accounts.
Streamlining Quote Entry
We’ve introduced several new
functions in the fourth quarter
that will streamline the quote
entry process.
1. Similar to the copy function
available on Business Auto
quoting panels, a “Copy
Current” button now
displays on the following
panels:
• Addresses
• Farm Locations:
o Residence
o Scheduled Personal
Property (SPP)
o Buildings and
Structures
o Farm Personal
Property (FPP)
You can now use the “Copy
Current” button to copy
existing information on the
quote for faster, more efficient
submission of the application.
For example, if you are adding
multiple bins to a submission,
you will not need to re-key the
“enter description” field for
each one. You can now copy
the current information and
then only change those parts
that needed changing for each
description.
2. Farm supplemental
questionnaires will display
under the Additional
Underwriting Requirements
information section on the
Attachments screen when
the following are selected
for a farm application:
• Confinement
Supplemental – Building
o Recreational
Vehicles (RVs)
(continued on next page)
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AGVISOR
december 2014
Easier farm submissions (cont.)
• Equine – Policywide
Option
Tip Sheets with screen
shots are available to
help you. They can be
found on the Agent
Center. Look in the
Notification Center in
Agent Updates.
• Exclusive Agents click
here
• Independent Agents
click here
• Hay – FPP Scheduled
Farm Products
• Hunt Club – Policywide
Option for California
only
• Hunting Operations –
Policywide Option
• Irrigation Center – FPP
Scheduled Irrigation
Equipment
• Mobile Home –
Residence
for selected items that
previously were only
noted as “included.”
• Solar Powered –
Building Miscellaneous
Structures
• Providing RV proof of
insurance (POI) cards
automatically based
on the off premise
Recreational Vehicle
endorsement FL70620
• Supplemental Heating
– Residence & Buildings
(Wood/Solid Fuel
Stove)
• New fields added or
moved to the setup
screen, gathering
information earlier in
the quote process to
improve submission and
acceptance of quotes
3. The following will also
display on the Additional
Underwriting Requirements
information section:
• Blanket Inventory
– complete on the
quoting screen or
application
• Farm Umbrella –
complete on the
application
4. Additional Farm System
changes:
• The quote proposal
will now display actual
premium amounts or
detailed information
<
Improved Tracking of
Customer Affinity/Program
Relationships
When our farm customers
affiliate with other organizations,
especially organizations
Nationwide® has created
affinity/program partnerships
(continued on next page)
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>
AGVISOR
december 2014
Easier farm submissions (cont.)
We are now able to track
as many as 12 affinity/
program relationships,
increased from one, for
each farm customer.
with, it helps increase our
knowledge about their farm
businesses, allows us to better
tailor product and service
offerings to them and enables
increased collaboration with
our affinity partners.
That’s why we worked to
expand our relationship
tracking capabilities. We
are now able to track as
many as 12 affinity/program
relationships, increased from
one, for each farm customer,
including memberships with
Farm Bureaus, CHS, Inc.,
Southern States Cooperative,
National Bison Association and
others.
Agent Center has been
modified to ask, on
submission, if the account has
additional memberships. A
communication about this new
capacity was sent to our farm
agencies in December.
<
This is the first step in
improving our system
capabilities for tracking
customer affinity/program
memberships. It’s important to
note that with this December
change discounts and
coverage enhancements will
not be changing.
This new system capacity
continues our focus on being
a customer-centric company,
provides additional customer
information to agencies
and will help strengthen our
relationships with current
and future affinity/program
partners.
Talk to your Nationwide
Agribusiness Sales Manager
or Farm Underwriter if you
have questions about the new
system enhancements.
page 11
>
AGVISOR
december 2014
New People, Underwriting
Promotions
New Sales Manager
Joe Broekemeier
joined
Nationwide® as
Agribusiness
Sales Manager
for the states of
Colorado, Utah,
Arizona and
New Mexico in November.
Broekemeier comes from a
small town in central Nebraska.
He has a background
in agriculture as well as
specializing in commercial
property/casualty insurance
working both for a carrier and
an independent agency. He
graduated from the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he
lettered on both the football
and baseball teams. He will be
headquartered in Colorado.
protection, auto physical
damage and homeowners,
and has experience in multiple
jurisdictions. Bezy has held a
variety of leadership positions
and most recently served
as Titan Claims Director in
Harrisburg, PA. She also served
on the Board of Directors for
the Pennsylvania Auto Theft
Prevention Authority. Bezy
holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in administration
from Central Michigan
University, Mt. Pleasant, MI,
and earned her Masters of
Business Administration from
the University of Michigan,
Flint. She has earned an
Associate in Claims (AIC)
designation and is pursuing
her Chartered Property &
Casualty Underwriter (CPCU)
designation.
New Claims Director
New Underwriters
Kim Bezy
has joined
Nationwide
Agribusiness
as Casualty
Claims Director.
Bezy joined
Nationwide in
2013. She has held positions
with both non-standard
and standard personal lines
carriers, has developed
strong skills in casualty
claims, personal injury
Matt Dorr began
his career at
Nationwide
in February
2009 with the
Personal Lines
Service Center
and moved to
Personal Lines Underwriting
in May 2011. Dorr will have
primary responsibility for the
state of Arkansas.
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AGVISOR
december 2014
New people, promotions (cont.)
Mike Dunker has
rejoined Farm
Underwriting
as Senior Field
Underwriter
primarily for
the states of
Wisconsin and
Illinois. Dunker graduated
from Upper Iowa University,
Fayette, IA, with an education
degree and taught junior high
students in the Des Moines
area before joining Nationwide
in 2006. Dunker returns to
Underwriting from his most
current role as Agribusiness
Sales Manager for IL, IN and
MI. Prior to his sales position,
Dunker spent time in both
Farm and Commercial Ag
Underwriting.
Nicole Goodman
joined Farm
Underwriting
in October, and
has worked
at Nationwide
since 2005.
Most recently,
Goodman was a Claims
Specialist with the Commercial
Farm team. She graduated
with a Bachelor’s degree
in microbiology from Iowa
State University and currently
resides in Ames. Goodman
is pursuing a Master’s in
occupational safety and health
from Columbia Southern
University, AL.
Ross Hageman
has worked for
Nationwide since
August 2011.
He started as a
Sales Agent for
Nationwide Sales
Solutions (NSS)
selling personal lines products
in 45 states. His role included
selling, coaching new sales
agents and retaining current
customers. He has joined
Farm Underwriting as an
Underwriter.
Kalen Lenz
has been
named a Senior
Underwriter
in Farm
Underwriting.
Lenz grew up
in Manchester,
IA, and has lived in West Des
Moines for the last four years.
A graduate with a Bachelor’s
degree from Wartburg
College, Waverly, IA, he started
his career as a Mortgage
Consultant for Wells Fargo
before transitioning to Military
Family Home Loans, LLC,
before joining Nationwide.
Dawn Roberts
has joined Farm
Underwriting
as a Senior
Underwriter
and will be
responsible for
(continued on next page)
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AGVISOR
december 2014
New people, promotions (cont.)
the state of Wisconsin. Dawn
graduated from the University
of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls,
with a BS in sociology and a
BA in communications. She’s
been with Nationwide for 12
years working for Nationwide
Advantage Mortgage as a
Loan Processor; a Multi-Line
Claims Adjuster, and for the
last 10 years has been working
in Personal Lines Underwriting
as a Senior Personal Lines
Underwriter.
Congratulations:
Underwriting Promotions
Cassie Haus has
been promoted
to Senior Field
Underwriter for
the states of
Minnesota and
North Dakota.
Haus graduated
from Bemidji State University,
Bemidji, MN, majoring in
business administration and
management. She started her
career with Allied/Nationwide
as an intern in the Claims
Department during college
and began working at Allied
Insurance as a Commercial
Lines Underwriter in 2007,
In 2010, she transitioned to
her Farm Field Underwriter
role. Haus has earned her
Agribusiness and Farm
Insurance Specialist (AFIS)
designation.
Andrew
McDowell has
been promoted
to Farm
Underwriting
Specialist and
underwrites in
the states of
New York and Pennsylvania
out of the Des Moines office.
McDowell grew up on a
diversified family farm near
Sheldon, IA, (northwest Iowa)
and assisted with the corn,
soybean, hog and sheep
operation there. He was active
in 4-H and FFA. He obtained
a degree in organizational
communication studies from
the University of Northern
Iowa, Cedar Falls. He began
his insurance career at Allied
Insurance as a Direct Sales
Agent with the Allied Group
Insurance Marketing Company.
In 1999, he moved back to
Sheldon and became an
independent insurance agent
at ARI Services, Ltd., (now
Perspective Insurance) selling
personal lines, health and life,
and farm insurance. In June
2001, McDowell returned to
Allied as an Agribusiness
Insurance Underwriter
handling the states of Iowa,
Wisconsin and Michigan.
McDowell earned both his
CPCU and AFIS designations
in 2007.
(continued on next page)
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>
AGVISOR
— STAFF —
Sales AVPS
Craig Betten, Central Region
Devin Fuhrman, Western Region
Jerry Hillard, Eastern Region
Sales Managers
Joe Broekemeier (AZ/CO/NM/UT)
Stephanie Bush (ID/MT/WY)
Kent Fisher (KY/NY/OH/PA/WV)
Mark Gonzales (Southern CA/NV)
Brian Greicar (ND/MN/WI)
Emily Keggan
(CT/ME/NH/NY/PA/RI/VT)
Scott King (AL/FL/GA)
Chris Lind (DE/MD/NC/SC/VA)
Marc Menninga (OR/WA)
Scott Naset (IA/MO)
Sherry Paczosa (KS/NE/SD)
Mark Schweitzer (AR/LA/MS/TN)
Jeff Vail (Northern CA/NV)
Steve Wood (OK/TX)
Open (IL/IN/MI)
Underwriting Directors
Nate Bleich
Erin Cumings
Rick Russell
Underwriting Managers
Emily Atwood
David Braun
Sue Cutter
Sharon Dunning
Tennille Harms
Michael Hoskins
Michelle Johnston
Lance KuyKendall
Chace Long
Josh Marshall
Tate Namle
Bonnie Reed
Jade Rodemeyer
CONTACT US
Underwriting: 888-327-8700
december 2014
New people, promotions (cont.)
Jim Sheets has
been promoted
to Senior
Underwriter
in Farm
Underwriting. He
is located in the
Lincoln office
and underwrites the state of
Kansas. Sheets graduated
from the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in
finance. He worked for Allied
Insurance as a Commercial
Lines Underwriter for four
years in both the Lincoln and
Central States regional offices.
Sheets then spent 10 years
working as a Personal Lines
Underwriter at State Farm
Insurance, Lincoln. He joined
Nationwide Agribusiness as
a Farm Underwriter in March
2014.
Amanda
Wobschall has
been promoted
to Senior
Underwriter
for Farm
Underwriting.
She underwrites
in 9 states in the Southeast
based in the Des Moines
office. Wobschall has been
with Nationwide since 2006,
working in the Claims Call
Center then moving to
the Commercial and Farm
Service Centers. She joined
Nationwide Agribusiness
in Underwriting in 2011 and
currently is Southeast Special
Ag Underwriter. Wobschall
is a graduate of AIB College
of Business, Des Moines. She
grew up in the north central
Iowa farming community of
Hampton.
John Yurkanin has been
promoted to
Senior Field
Underwriter
for Farm
Underwriting and
is responsible
for the state
of New York.
Yurkanin started his career
with Nationwide in 2008 as a
Commercial Underwriter for
the state of Connecticut. In
2011, he joined Nationwide
Agribusiness as the Farm Field
Underwriter for PA and NY. In
2014, he became the Farm and
Special Ag Field Underwriter
for NY.
Farm Sales & Service: 800-243-0875
Farm Certification: 800-233-5892
General Fax: 888-224-8780
Emergency Local Fax: 515-508-3678
Report a Claim: 800-248-6283
Hours (CST): 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mailing Address:
1100 Locust St, Dept. 3035
Des Moines, IA 50391-3035
NationwideAgribusiness.com
Facebook.com/nwagribusiness
Twitter.com/nwagribusiness
YouTube.com/nwaGvideo
Eligibility for insurance offerings and coverages are subject to underwriting guidelines, review, and approval. Products and discounts not available
to all persons in all states. Products underwritten by Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company and Farmland Mutual Insurance Company, 1100
Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50391-3000. Nationwide, Nationwide is On Your Side, and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. AgriChoice is a service mark of Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Co. ©2014 Nationwide Agribusiness
Insurance Company. FARM252 GPO-0114AO (12/14)
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