AWB, a subsidiary of Cargill Australia, has introduced cover for frost and crop establishment failure, in response to growing demand from broadacre farmers.

The covers are optional add-ons when farmers take out fire and hail insurance.

Feedback from farmers indicates they prefer to insure against risks specific to their businesses, instead of a broad basket of irrelevant perils.

“This is why we have made frost and crop establishment failure specific coverages that can be added to the current hail and fire policy,” GM Customers Ben Fargher said.

“There is increasing awareness of the impact a severe frost at the wrong time can have on an otherwise bumper crop, and the financial and psychological impacts of this can be tough.

“It is equally demoralising and financially devastating when a crop sown dry fails to emerge when the season break doesn’t arrive.”