With a focus on putting the farmer first, Zurich Farm Insurance experts JP Aherne and Mike O’Donoghue boast strong relationships with Munster farmers and a service offering that provides their customers with a tailored personal solution.
Thanks to the innovative, personalised service delivered by Zurich’s collective Farm Insurance, Claims, and Underwriting teams, Zurich has earned its title as one of Ireland’s leading insurance providers.
For JP and Mike, no two days are the same and that’s because no two farms are the same.
Zurich offers a personalised farm visit by a Zurich Farm Insurance expert. During the visit, our Zurich Farm Insurance expert will assess the farm and give a full review of the customer’s farm insurance, concentrating on the adequacy of the sums insured and giving farmers valuable tips. Our Zurich Farm Insurance experts’ insight is backed up by years of significant experience and expertise.
Zurich’s track record speaks for itself
As one of Ireland’s leading farm insurers, Zurich has a track-record of providing farmers across the country with sustainable, value-for-money insurance cover.
Zurich’s consistent premiums from year to year give farmers reassurance and comprehensive cover at the price they expect.
We do everything we can to ensure that we are there to support our customers when they most need us; usually when making a claim.
We’re extremely proud of our 99* percent claims settlement record, which provides ease of mind to our customers during challenging periods.
Similarly, Zurich has a specialised farm underwriting team who looks after the ever-changing needs of their farm customers, ensuring farm products are developed so that they meet the needs of farmers.
The innovative service offered by Zurich Farm Insurance has been recognised by other major bodies in the Agri sector such as Dairygold, ICMSA, FDC Financial Services and Irish Grain Growers Association, who have all made Zurich their recommended insurer of choice in this area. Members of each of these bodies can avail of Zurich’s personal service and some enhanced benefits.
Unique relationship with Irish farmers
Key to delivering tailored insurance that meets the needs of farmers, is an innate understanding and decades of expertise brought by each of Zurich’s farm experts – and the ability to innovate in the current environment and deliver a personalised service remotely.
Farmers, much like any other self-employed business owner, need to know how to cover everything from their farm business to home insurance, machinery and motors, as well as cover for employees and public liability.
Munster farmers will be familiar with the expertise offered by JP Aherne and Mike O’Donoghue, having relied on their informed experience, insight and knowledge for many years.
In fact, Zurich’s team of six farm insurance experts possess more than 100 years of farm insurance experience combined.
Irish farmers are aware of the value of having reliable insurance cover to secure their farm businesses, their homes and their families.
“You have to visit each farm to fully understand what the customer needs,” said Mike O’Donoghue. “We look at the dwelling house, the outbuildings, the machinery and assess the risks.
“If the farmer crosses the road with livestock, you must consider public liability. You assess all the risks. Often farmers will think of covering every risk bar anything that might happen to themselves.
“If a farmer with 90 cows breaks his leg, he may have to pay someone else to milk the herd twice a day at €50 a milking. That could be €700 a week until he recovers.”
For many farmers, the stormy weather of recent years has brought home the value of having insurance cover they could rely upon. Zurich’s customers recall very well the speed and integrity the company brought in response.
For instance, when a roof was blown off a milking parlour, the farmer was advised to take photographs of the damage to enable the 80 people working in Zurich’s team to make a quick assessment. The support was swift, efficient and fair.
Graham Minogue, Head of Agri Sales with Zurich Insurance, says: “Our hugely experienced team of farm experts are at the heart of our success. The feedback we get from our clients offers a real insight into the importance of that personal relationship.
“Our farm customers tell us that our experienced farm team fully understand the nature of their business, and that they offer invaluable help on how best to protect their farm businesses, their families and themselves.
“They tell us that our support gives them reassurance and allows them to focus on their work. When we hear comments like that, we know we’re doing a good job.”
“We are very passionate about farm safety,” said Mike O’Donoghue. “In the business we’re in, everyone recognises that there are risks and accidents. It’s in everyone’s interests to minimise the risk of accidents on the farm.
“Where people are working on farms and on the roads, working with PTO shafts, handling cattle and chemicals, dealing with septic tanks and slurry pits, climbing up on a roof we all know there are risks involved. Slurry pits and septic tanks are extremely dangerous around children.
“The risk management and the prevention of accidents is very important. Of course, prevention makes business sense for us. But prevention is also very important to us because we care about our customers, their farms and their families.
“That comes with the territory. It is part and parcel of the personal service that we deliver. Every year, we talk to farmers who are looking at renewing their policies,” says JP Aherne.
“If nothing has changed on their farms, they may be happy to just renew the policy. Our visits and insight are offered free. We start at the farm gate and offer them a fresh pair of eyes on risks that they might not see for themselves.”
Choose a farm insurer that is with you every step
During these unprecedented times, movements are restricted but the Zurich Farm team are still committed to helping farmers with their farm insurance needs and are available by phone and email.
For information on how Zurich Farm Insurance can help with your farm business, see: www.zurich.ie/farm-insurance. Call the Zurich Farm Team in Wexford on 053 915 76 77 or call your dedicated farm insurance expert:
Munster: JP Aherne on 086 411 3797; or Mike O’Donoghue on 086 831 2441.
North West: Tom Byrne on 086 047 7234.
Midlands: Bill Meaney on 086 143 6343; or Pat Maher on 086 047 5422.
South East: Joe Nolan on 086 022 0519.
Zurich Insurance plc is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. *From January to December 2019, on average we paid out on 99% of motor, home, van and farm insurance claims.
Zurich has supported AgriKids over the last three years to educate 25,000 children on the importance of farm safety. We are now proud to support the AgriKids Farm Safety Supplement enclosed in this week’s Farming Examiner.