Insurance

The Oregon Legislature is looking at how homeowners can maintain their insurance in high fire risk areas.  Kenton Brine, with the Northwest Insurance Council, said disaster losses have skyrocketed for insurance companies.   "Losses related to natural disasters, just natural disasters, were $168 billion in 2023 and $182 billion in 2024."   In C...

Last week, the Oregon House passed a bill that attempts to help homeowners in high-risk fire areas keep their insurance.  Some property owners report losing coverage.  Medford-area state Senator Jeff Golden said the bill directs the state to help communities take action to reduce wildfire risk.   "All prope...

Every legislative session, there are bills and proposals in Olympia that don't appear at the onset to impact the farming community.  However, these pieces of legislation can have unintended consequences that have a big impact on ag operations, regardless of the size.  One of ...

The Great ShakeOut took place October 17th, which encouraged everyone to prepare in the event of a major earthquake.  But, does that mean you should consider getting earthquake insurance?  If a quake damages your home, and you don't have earthquake insurance, you'll be on the hook for repairs.   "The first...

Last week, Oregon’s Board of Forestry voted on rules regarding the new Wildfire Hazard Map.  The group spent time discussing the implications of the map and what it means for property owners, especially in areas designated as high hazard.   “The o...

With winter weather here across much of the Pacific Northwest, now is a good time to prevent storm damage by trimming branches hanging over your roof, fence, driveway, barn or sheds.  Jason Horton, with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, said it’s also time to make sure you have appropriate insurance coverage.   “If yo...

Agricultural producers with small-scale farms who sell locally can now get simplified insurance coverage through a new policy designed. The Department of Agriculture developed the new Micro Farm policy, which simplifies recordkeeping and covers post-production costs like washing and value-added products ...

There are several financial and document-related considerations for those who are going through or have just completed  a divorce. Andrew Bingham with University of Idaho Extension in Ada County, said it starts with a credit freeze request with reporting agencies. ...

Motor vehicle accidents top the list of insurance claims in farming in agribusiness. A statement from Nationwide Insurance says that accidents, workers compensation and misapplication of chemicals or drift issues, have accounted for more than 50,000 claims over the last three years...

With hurricanes battering the East Coast and the South and wildfires through the Western half of the U.S., it’s important to be prepared for a natural disaster, but what do you need to know financially?   Lori Scharmer of North Dakota State University Extensions said the first thing you need to do is to make sure you check your insurance.   “...