Farmers Mutual Hail Recognizes Shirley Top as Top-Producing Agent
(WEST DES MOINES, IA - March 8, 2023) Shirley Top with Kozlowski Insurance Agency and Financial Services, Inc., of Luverne, Minnesota, has recently been recognized as a top-producing crop insurance agent for Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company (FMH).
FMH recognizes the top-producing agents in total premium written each year. Top has been recognized as placing 41st - up from 47th in 2021 - in the company’s Top 50 Agents in Private Crop Insurance Premium list. In addition, Top ranked 5th in the state of Minnesota for combined Federal Crop Insurance and Crop Hail premium in 2022 with FMH.
This year marks 36 years in the crop insurance business for Top, and she’s looking forward to making 2023 another successful year for her customers. “In 2023 farmers’ expenses have skyrocketed. Farmers are concerned about downside prices,” Top said. To protect against this, she recommends adding one of Farmers Mutual Hail’s private products, ECO+.
ECO+ has yield protection or revenue protection, and with the new ECO+ Forward Plus protection, provides harvest price upside protection. Farmers can purchase ECO+ that will provide coverage for farm-level losses from 86% to 95%. ECO+ can be purchased with 75%, 80% or 85% multi-peril coverage. Farmers can purchase ECO+, available in two coverage bands, as an optional endorsement to supplement their underlying crop policy.
“Grain Fire, another FMH private product, was a popular purchase in the fall of 2022 due to drought conditions,” she said. Fire damage is not a covered peril in multi-peril crop insurance. Grain Fire from FMH is a policy that covers fire damage in standing grain, giving farmers the extra protection needed to ensure crops are protected when harvest approaches and crops are at a greater risk for fire damage. FMH Crop Hail coverage does include fire coverage.
Top says the most important part of her job is working with clients, helping them understand their options, and assisting them in weather and price-related claims. “I love working with farmers,” she added. “I have never ‘just sold’ insurance. Rather, I show farmers their options and they decide which coverage is best for them.”
“I also have to give credit to the amazing job our adjusters do, especially FMH Adjuster Brian Fick, of Luverne,” Top added. “To no one’s surprise, in 2022 Brian was recognized by Farmers Mutual Hail as one of the top five adjusters in the company. Brian has passion as an adjuster to do things well and in a timely fashion.”
About Farmers Mutual Hail
Farmers Mutual Hail provides crop insurance nationwide. Headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, FMH has served America’s farmers since 1893 with a combination of financial strength, personal service, and Midwestern values. A leader in the crop insurance industry, the company has been managed by the same family for over 125 years and has a reputation of building lasting relationships that benefit its employees, business partners, and customers. FMH provides comprehensive risk management solutions, including private and federal crop insurance, reinsurance products and services, as well as farm and ranch insurance that includes auto, property, and liability coverage. Learn more at www.fmh.com
