Canada’s first independent crop adjusters are scouting fields in Saskatchewan this summer.
Anchor Independent Crop and Hail Adjusters Bureaus is a Regina-based private company that works for farmers who don’t have time to spend with insurance adjusters in the field after a claim or who are wary of insurance companies.
“We act in place of the farmer,” said Amel Paradis, one of the founders of Anchor.
“We assess the claim and handle the paperwork on his behalf … . It’s a service to farmers.”
Jack Condon, an adjuster with Municipal Hail in Regina, has examined hail-ravaged fields this summer with Anchor adjusters. He said he can understand why farmers want to hire the company.
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“For a farmer with eight to 10 quarters, it can take up to five days to evaluate a claim,” he said.
“Lots of farmers haven’t got that time anymore. There is equipment to repair, spraying to do and at harvest time, forget it.”
Brad Ernst farms 3,000 acres near Watrous, Sask. This summer 2,800 acres were damaged in a hailstorm.
“I run a small trucking company on the side, so I can pay for the farm. I can’t afford the time to be off the road.”
Condon said lots of farmers don’t even bother going out with insurance company adjusters if it is a busy time of year.
Paradis said that can be a bad idea.
“It can be kind of like letting the wolf count the sheep, in some cases.”
Condon said farmers can benefit from having their own experienced advocate.
“These guys (Anchor adjusters) just act for the farmer,” he said.
“It’s kind of like having a real knowledgeable (farmer) out in the field with you while you do the adjusting.”
While hiring an independent adjuster is an extra expense, for many producers the service will pay in lost hours that could be spent doing other farm work or by extracting an accurate crop adjustment.
“Sure, there is a part of me that would like to be out there with (the adjusters for the insurance company) but I might just say something I regret, too,” Ernst said.
“Anchor knows what they are doing and they aren’t emotionally caught up in the issue.”
Paradis said Anchor’s prices depend on the amount of work required, but an average 2,500 acre claim might cost about $1,200.
