Agri-Services Agency

Within the vast fields of growth and harvest, the true strength of a thriving farm lies in the well-being of its workforce. A workers’ compensation program, precisely designed for their needs is integral in safeguarding their health and livelihoods in the unpredictable agricultural landscape. However, the significant number of agricultural operations, each spanning various levels of risk exposure, elevate the odds of finding suitable insurance carriers, putting agribusiness owners at a disadvantage.

Like many others, farmers in northeastern Pennsylvania had also fallen victim to this challenge. Instead of being mere spectators, a group of farmers within the organization embarked on a mission to change the status quo and devise affordable and quality insurance packages for their families and employees.

This led to the inception of Agri-Services Agency (ASA), an innovative insurance service provider offering high-quality insurance programs for the agricultural community. Backed by its strategic partnership with various A+ rated carriers, the company delivers a diverse range of premium programs, including workers’ compensation, health, and farm insurance across 47 states. It has designed these programs to address the varying needs of agribusinesses and farmers, empowering them to create a safety culture, improve employee retention and productivity.

“We don’t just sell you insurance and walk away, we offer a comprehensive and personalized approach. We understand that a one-size-fits-all model is not ideal for serving the agricultural community,” says Mark Gannon, general manager of ASA.

It then focuses on tailoring programs to best suit clients’ needs. A typical engagement involves a team approach, analyzing all avenues of a farm’s cultivation models, crops grown, and types of operations. The insights gleaned are instrumental in designing the best-in-class solutions that provide a reliable financial cushion for the workforce during unforeseen events. It goes beyond the confines of a standard provider and prioritizes developing safety and training programs that decrease the likelihood of an accident and promotes safe working practices while decreasing premium costs.

“We’re not just insuring farms; we take pride in offering proactive agricultural risk management to ensure workforce safety,” says Gannon.

ASA is renowned for its robust loss control and client-centric claims management services. With over 100 years of combined safety and ag experience, the ASA Loss Control team combine their personal dairy and farm experience and are OSHA authorized outreach trainers who offer practical recommendations and safety training to keep operations safe.

Understanding the impact serious injuries have on farm owners and employees, ASA emphasizes a human touch to claims handling. It actively engages with stakeholders, including third parties involved in claims settlement process, to ensure correct billing, fair charges, and proper care for injured employees.

A recent client success story substantiates the firm’s commitment to maximizing benefits from coverage while promoting workers’ well-being.

On the fields of one of its agribusiness clients, an employee experienced a severe head injury. This farm was located in a place with limited medical resources. Recognizing the situation’s gravity, ASA took the initiative to transfer the injured person to metropolitan area well-equipped for his treatment. It even facilitated and covered the international air travel expenses of the employee’s family members.

This comprehensive approach, including medical care and family involvement, addressed the employee’s physical and emotional needs. Despite the initial fears of losing the employee to his injury, the individual recovered and returned to work on the farm. ASA’s proactive measures in providing extensive care and support proved beneficial, underscoring the value of going beyond standard practices in handling such incidents.

ASA is home to many similar stories. The firm ascribes its accomplishments to its team of experts backed by extensive experience. It actively invests in the team’s continued education to meet the agribusiness community’s evolving needs. For instance, since 2018, the ASA program educated over 4,000 employees on farm safety. Its claims team has secured over $5 million in medical bill savings for clients and 70,000 in prescription drugs just through enhanced error management in the claims process. All these initiatives demonstrate ASA’s dedication to going the extra mile to provide robust, affordable workers comp and comprehensive care.