METCALFE — A long-time Agricorp adjuster and a familiar face on Eastern Ontario farms packed it in recently.
Dean Patterson, the “dean” of Eastern Ontario crop insurance, called it quits to focus on his own 850-acre cash crop farm east of Metcalfe.
He covered an area from Lancaster to Cobden. “I had the largest area east of Toronto and 520 clients,” he said. He made more than 2,500 farm visits.
Patterson figures the worst year on record during his time as an adjuster was 2017, with all the flooding, though 2012 would be a close second because of the drought, especially up in Renfrew.
“I think everyone should be insured,” he said. “Our weather’s so erratic and we’ve got so much money tied up in these crops.” For a farmer with insurance, Patterson recommends getting the 90 per cent coverage floating claim price; the extra couple dollars an acre in costs are worth hundreds in a claim year, he said.
If your crop is damaged, take photos, and get in touch with Agricrop right away, he said. On an ongoing basis, record your yields, your inputs, because it’ll make your life easier if you have to call in damages.
“Thanks to the ag community, for dealing with me for 17 years,” Patterson said. “I met a lot of people, and I learned a lot. Every time I was on a farm, I learned something for my own operation.”
