Coverage Gaps Leave Canadian Farms Vulnerable to Outbreak Risks, Says Ryan Johnston

In an article appearing this month in Insurance Business Magazine, Ryan Johnston, Vice-President and National Practice Leader—Agriculture at BFL CANADA, discusses the challenges facing producers at a time when outbreak risks are numerous and raise fears of irreversible losses for small producers.

An incident at an ostrich farm in British Columbia recently highlighted significant coverage gaps in the insurance offered to poultry producers. Some insurance programs only cover farms that are part of large supply chains or target specific operations. On the other hand, public programs provide support that does not cover all losses and private insurance is costly for producers, often forcing them to protect some of their activities at the expense of others.

In this context, Ryan Johnston stresses the importance of preventive disease management and the handling of incidents by government authorities in order to protect farms.