While avian influenza and rising egg prices have dominated headlines, a quieter—but no less serious—crisis is currently unfolding behind the scenes of the poultry industry. It’s not a disease. It’s not feed. It’s not fuel.
It’s insurance.
Across the Southeast and beyond, long-standing poultry operations—some of them family-run for generations—are finding themselves unexpectedly dropped by their insurance carriers. Their crime? Being too old.
Insurance Carriers Are Quietly Exiting
Many major insurers are tightening underwriting guidelines, quietly walking away from poultry farms with:
- Barns over 15–20 years old
- Outdated or aging electrical systems
- Older roofing or structural design
- Any significant past claims history
Even well-maintained farms that have invested in updates and compliance are being told they’re “uninsurable” or are being hit with large premium increases and exclusions. In many cases, this happens without warning, during renewal cycles or even mid-policy.
Farmers Are Left Exposed
For poultry farmers, insurance isn’t optional. It’s a vital part of managing operational risk—covering everything from equipment breakdowns and electrical fires to loss of income when operations are halted. When insurance disappears, so does stability.
This issue becomes even more concerning in the context of broader industry challenges. According to the USDA’s February 2024 Farm Sector Income Forecast, net farm income is projected to fall by 20% in 2024, with commodity prices down and input costs—like fuel, labor, insurance, and feed—on the rise.
Meanwhile, a 2024 research study titled “Economic Analysis of Poultry Insurance Uptake Among Farmers” revealed that only 7.1% of poultry farmers currently have insurance coverage, highlighting a significant protection gap across the industry.
A Growing but Underinsured Sector
Despite financial strain, the poultry and livestock sector is growing. In fact, livestock and poultry purchases are expected to hit a record $50.5 billion in 2025, according to the USDA 2025 Agricultural Outlook, a 6.5% increase from 2024.
At the same time, the 2025 Global Livestock & Poultry Farming Insurance Market Outlook forecasts a 7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2033, reflecting a rising awareness of risk and the importance of biosecurity coverage.
Yet, this growth is happening in parallel with a troubling trend—longstanding operations being priced out or excluded entirely.
A Proactive Approach: “Dedication Deserves Protection”
At Johnson Insurance, we believe farmers deserve better. That’s why we launched the Dedication Deserves Protection initiative—a campaign designed to help poultry farmers at every stage of their journey secure the insurance coverage they need to keep growing.
Whether your farm is just a few years old or a few decades into production, we offer custom solutions that:
- Ignore age limits other carriers enforce
- Focus on clear, transparent policies
- Offer competitive rates for real-world coverage
- Prioritize replacement cost and income protection
- Provide personalized service from agriculture-savvy professionals
Why It Matters
In a year when production expenses are expected to reach $450.4 billion and labor costs are projected to climb to a record $53.5 billion, farmers cannot afford to be underinsured—or uninsured altogether (USDA Farm Sector Income Forecast, 2025).
This issue hasn’t received the attention it deserves—but it needs to. Insurance gaps are quietly becoming a defining risk factor for poultry farmers across the country. And as the ag sector continues to evolve, our protection strategies have to evolve, too.
Learn more at: gojohnsoninsurance.com/poultry-farm-insurance-dedication-deserves-protection
