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From Pikeville to Paducah, the Bluegrass State’s beautiful country roads are the perfect place for motorcycle enthusiasts. If you’re a rider, you know that Kentucky law mandates motorcyclists to carry insurance. Are you curious what Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) Insurance motorcycle insurance will cover, or what your financial responsibilities are should you get into a crash or damage your motorcycle? If so, the answers to these frequently asked questions might be helpful in expanding your motorcycle insurance claims knowledge.
 

Q. If injured in an accident, will my motorcycle policy pay for my medical expenses?
A. Typically, reasonable and necessary medical treatment is covered under the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. If you have chosen to purchase optional PIP coverage, your policy may provide benefits for the driver or passenger on your motorcycle, as well as any pedestrians struck by your vehicle.   

Q. The accident wasn’t my fault. Do I still have to pay a deductible?
A. Regardless of fault, you'll pay a deductible for certain coverages. However, during the claim investigation, if the facts indicate there's a chance to recover the damages from the person responsible for the accident, KFB Insurance will attempt to recover them, including your deductible. If we aren't successful, you have the option of trying to recover the costs on your own. 

A deductible is the dollar amount of the claim you are responsible to pay. For example, if you have a $500 deductible, you will be responsible for the first $500 of certain first party claims that you file and then KFB Insurance will pay the remainder. You choose the deductible on your policy when you purchase insurance. A higher deductible lowers the price of your premium.

Q. What if my motorcycle is totaled?
A.  A motorcycle is considered a total loss if the estimated cost to repair exceeds 75% of its actual cash value (ACV). The decision whether to repair or declare a total loss is based on the type and extent of damage, age of the motorcycle, state law, and other factors. In order to make the determination, KFB Insurance will have to inspect the motorcycle. If your motorcycle is determined to be a total loss, you will be paid the actual cash value of the motorcycle as established by conducting a local market survey, less any applicable deductible.    

Q. What if I disagree with the total loss value?
A. KFB Insurance will be glad to review any documentation you have to support the reason for disagreement. We will review the documentation for accuracy and applicability to the total loss vehicle. If the documentation is credible and it affects our assessment of the ACV, we will adjust our offer accordingly. If we remain in disagreement, our policy contract describes how an appraisal can be arranged to resolve the differences.

Q. What happens to a motorcycle after a total loss?
A. Typically, totaled motorcycles are sold at salvage auctions or to a licensed salvage dealer. KFB Insurance complies with the appropriate laws and regulations that require obtaining salvage titles or branding/marking the title. We obtain salvage at the conclusion of a total loss settlement and sell it through licensed salvage vendors. We do not directly sell vehicles determined to be a total loss to private individuals.

Q. Can I keep my motorcycle after a total loss?
A. In some instances, you may be able to purchase your motorcycle from KFB Insurance after a total loss. Your adjuster can provide information if you are interested. 

Q.  Will I still have to pay my loan or lease after a total loss?
A. After your motorcycle is declared a total loss, you may still owe money on your loan or lease if the actual cash value is less than what you owe. Purchasing loan/lease payoff coverage prior to an accident can provide financial security for you in case your motorcycle is declared a total loss.

Loan/lease payoff coverage, commonly called "gap" coverage, may pay the difference between the actual cash value of your vehicle and what you still owe on your loan or lease (less any deductible). Your claim adjuster can provide more details on this.  

Q. If property is stolen from my insured motorcycle, is the loss covered by my motorcycle policy?

A. There are restrictions to coverage for certain types of equipment under the motorcycle policy. Other personal property items are typically covered under your homeowners policy. Please contact your KFB Insurance Claim Representative for additional information. 

Q. What if the accident happened outside of Kentucky? Who will handle my claim?
A. If your accident happened outside of Kentucky, your claim will be assigned to an adjuster who is trained to help you. KFB Insurance will determine if your motorcycle needs to be inspected by an adjuster. We work with professional adjusters located across the country who are available to help when needed.
 

>> Have you heard the rumblings? KFB now insures motorcycles! For more information, click here.

^{*The above provides general claim information, but please keep in mind that every claim is different and must be considered in the context of the particular policy and any endorsements that you may have in place.  Each policy has specific terms and conditions that detail your coverages. The following information is not intended to modify any of the terms or conditions in your individual policy.}

Tires were built to be indestructible. While that’s great for your vehicle, it’s bad news for the Earth. In the past, tires often ended up as junk in landfills, stockpiles, vacant properties, on the side of the road, and in waterways. Repurposing tires was almost unheard of just 25 years ago and back in 1990, only 11 percent of scrap tires each year were recycled, according to the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA).

Thanks to aggressive repurposing efforts at the national and state level, innovative technologies, and environmental regulations, the recycling of tires is now a priority in the U.S. While tires are one of the most recycled products in the U.S., the end-of-life markets are not keeping pace with the annual generation of scrap tires, according to the USTMA. 

The 2021 Scrap Tire Management Report, the most recent report available, revealed that about 71% of scrap tires were recycled in 2021. This is down from 96% in 2013, when scrap tire recycling peaked.

“Three decades after we successfully eliminated 94% of the over one billion scrap tires stockpiled around the country, this report reveals that efforts to find and develop new uses for scrap tires have stalled,” said Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO of USTMA. “We must take immediate steps to grow new and existing markets to recycle 100% of scrap tires. This not only protects our health and the environment - it drives innovation and jobs.”

The Kentucky Division of Waste Management (DWM) estimates that about 4 million scrap tires are generated annually in Kentucky. The DWM strongly encourages consumers to leave worn tires with the retailer when purchasing a new set. For a small fee, that retailer can manage the tire in an earth-friendly way.  

For individuals who prefer to manage proper tire disposal themselves, the state-run Waste Tire Collection Program allows Kentuckians to drop off unwanted tires at specific locations within their county at no cost. The division warns that residential pickup services will not take used tires, and not all landfills will, either.   

So what happens to tires when they retire from life on the road? Luckily, used tires can be made into many awesome things, like:    

• Tire-derived fuel
  The majority of used tires are turned into a more economical alternative to fossil fuels. This gas is commonly used in cement kilns, paper mills, and industrial boilers. 
   
• Ground rubber
  More than 60 million used tires in the U.S. each year are recycled as rubberized asphalt, sport surfaces like fields and running tracks, mulch, and rubberized asphalt. Never heard of rubberized asphalt? This method results in quieter, more durable roads.    
   
• Civil engineering
  Tire shreds are a lightweight alternative to fill materials such as gravel or sand. Recycled tires work great for road and landfill construction, septic tank leach fields, and embankments. Their compress­ibility and high permeability make tire shreds a perfect fit for building retaining walls. Tire shreds drain much better than gravel, and provide 9 times more thermal insulation than gravel.      
   
• Do-it-yourself home projects
  There are plenty of things you can do with used tires around your house. Turn them into colorful flowerbeds, or give your kids the gift of an old-fashioned tire swing. You can even paint one and stuff a pillow inside for a wonderfully fluffy pet bed. Just be aware that if you allow water to collect in a tire, it can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.   

For more information on Kentucky’s Waste Tire Collection Program, click here.
 

>> KFB lives and works in the Bluegrass State. To see some of the ways we’re invested in helping Kentucky flourish, click here.

Kentucky’s diverse terrain makes it the perfect landscape for some ATV fun. Want a sweeping panoramic view? Traverse the trails of eastern Kentucky to reach a sprawling ridge top. River bottom riding more your style? Western Kentucky has you covered. There’s no doubt about it: Four-wheeling is fun… but it’s important to keep in mind that ATVs are not exactly toys.   

According to statistics from ATVSafety.gov, a service of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kentucky is one of the top five states in the nation for average ATV fatalities. 

Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance offers the following tips to help keep ATV riders safe across the Bluegrass State:

1. Get schooled! | Before heading for the trail to an off-road adventure, check out a driver education course specifically designed for ATVs. Proper instruction will inform riders of the correct ways to control an ATV on the various types of terrain that might be encountered. A formally-trained driver has a lower risk of accidents and injuries than one with no formal instruction.
2. Always wear a helmet. | In Kentucky, it’s the law. All riders (operator and passengers) 16 or over on public property must wear a helmet, except those using the ATV for agricultural or business purposes. All riders (operator and passengers) under age 16 must wear helmets no matter the circumstance.
3. Don’t forget special riding gear. | Like fly fishers who wear waterproof waders and snowboarders adorned in big bulky jackets, ATV riders should also come equipped for the elements they will encounter. Wear goggles, gloves, pants, boots that sit over the ankle, and long-sleeved shirts to avoid the cuts and scrapes that are more likely to occur when brushing up against trees, shrubs, rocks, and other debris with exposed skin.      
4. Stay off the road. | ATVs are designed to be operated off-highway and can actually be hard to control on paved surfaces. Under Kentucky law, ATV use on public roads or highways is prohibited, except to cross these roads or for agricultural use. Many ATV fatalities occur because a rider was traveling on a paved road.
5. Keep size in mind. | ATVs are growing bigger and faster than ever. Some ATVs can weigh up to 600 pounds and exceed 70 mph. ATVs can be too large for smaller kids to handle safely, even if it's legal for them to be riding them. The CPSC reports that almost 1/5th of ATV-related injuries treated in emergency rooms involved children less than 16 years of age. The National Ag Safety Database offers information – and additional safety tips – on the recommended ages for youth operation of ATVs and their various sizes and power.     
6. Don’t ride with a passenger. | Most ATVs are designed with only one rider in mind – the driver. Adding a passenger to the vehicle is not only a distraction, but it also interferes with the driver’s ability to move in tandem with the machine while navigating rough terrain. The inability to freely shift one’s weight from side to side limits the driver’s ability to maintain safe control of the ATV and could lead to an accident.      
7. Don’t drive under the influence. | Recreational use of ATVs can make for an enjoyable afternoon of adventure, but mixing those experiences with alcohol or drugs only impairs a driver’s judgment and reaction times.

We’re all for enjoying Kentucky’s beautiful sights via four-wheeler, but practice these tips to help reduce ATV injuries and fatalities this year and for years to come.       
 

>> In Kentucky, there’s so much to live for. Join us in driving distraction-free. To learn more about distracted driving’s prevalence in the Bluegrass State, click here.

Can you write down what you had for breakfast this morning? Easy! What about dinner two nights ago? Starting to get a little fuzzy. Now, what if someone gave you a pen and asked you to write down every possession in your home AND each item’s worth? Nearly impossible.      

This is a very real scenario for someone whose home has just been burglarized, burned down, or ravaged by a natural disaster. Identifying all of your items for an insurance claim can be both challenging and frustrating. Some items are obvious, like a computer, but what about the smaller, lesser used items, like your grandma’s antique jewelry in the bedroom drawer?   

To avoid this panic-inducing situation, consider making a home inventory. What’s that? A home inventory logs the valuables in your home and each item’s worth. An accurate and up-to-date home inventory can help you make sure you initially elect the right amount of insurance protection, and in the event of a loss, it can make filing a claim much simpler.

Where do you start? One way is to walk through your home with a printed version of our home inventory form, and jot down valuables using a pen and paper. You can also store the form electronically, using our fillable home inventory PDF. Luckily, these days there’s also smartphone technology (like this free app) that makes this process essentially fool-proof.  

Regardless of the method you choose for storing your inventory, follow these tips to maximize its usefulness:

• Organize your belongings by room.
• Consider taking photos – or even doing a video tour –  of your home. Get close-up shots of expensive electronics, and try to capture serial numbers when possible.
• Store the list in a secure place. If anyone were to find it, like a thief, you’re essentially giving them the road map to your home’s valuables.
• Compile receipts for already-purchased items if possible, and keep receipts for new items as you add them to your personal inventory. 
• Update your inventory at least once a year – or more often if you make a major purchase.  
   

>> At Kentucky Farm Bureau, we’re just as invested in your home as you are. We protect what’s important to you – from farms and fishing boats to minivans and mobile homes. To see a full list of products we insure, click here.

*The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identifies May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.   

Sun in your face, wind in your hair, and endless bluegrass-lined roads before you: An evening or weekend cruise on a motorcycle can be exciting, relaxing, and adrenaline-fueled all at the same time.   

But that exhilaration can come at a hefty price. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), per vehicle miles traveled, motorcyclists are approximately 28 times more likely than people in passenger cars to die in a traffic crash. Additionally, when motorcycles and other vehicles collide, it is usually the other (non-motorcycle) driver who violates the motorcyclist’s right-of-way. In 2022 (the latest statistics available), 6,218 motorcyclists were killed on U.S. roadways. 

One piece of protective gear has the ability to greatly re­duce the above statistics: a helmet. On average, unhelmeted riders are three times more likely than helmeted ones to sustain traumatic brain injuries in a crash, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).     

Motorcycles in Kentucky
Motorcycling is a common hobby in our state. According to the Kentucky State Police, there are more than 95,000 motorcycles currently registered in the Bluegrass State. 

Kentucky first enacted a motorcycle helmet law for all riders in 1968. This law was amended in July 1998 to require helmet use only by:   

•  Motorcycle operators and passengers under the age of 21;
•  Motorcycle operators who possess a motorcycle instruction permit;
•  Motorcycle operators who have had an operator’s license for less than one year.

When Kentucky repealed the law in 1998, motorcycle fatalities increased by more than 50 percent (NHTSA).  

In comparing states with and without helmet laws, the statistics are rather telling. In states where a helmet is required for all riders, 9 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2011 were not wearing a helmet. That same year in states without a universal helmet law, 65 percent of motorcyclists killed were not wearing helmets.

Battling excuses
Some riders claim that helmets reduce their peripheral visibility, but a helmet approved by the DOT (Department of Transportation) will not impair your visibility. A study of more than 900 motorcycle crashes did not find even one case in which a helmet kept a rider from spotting danger.

Other motorcycle riders will only bring along a helmet during long trips. Research shows that most crashes happen on short trips (less than five miles long), according to the Kentucky State Police.

Still yet, others will argue that protective head gear is not necessary on a low-speed cruise. However, research shows that most riders are traveling slower than 30 mph when a crash occurs. At that speed, a helmet can cut the number and severity of head injuries by as much as 50 percent.

Picking the right helmet
Finding the right helmet could literally be the defining factor between life and death.

Always look for the DOT symbol on the outside back of the helmet. This proves it has passed safety standards and will protect the head and brain in the event of a crash.

For a helmet to be DOT-approved, it must have:

• A thick inner liner. The minimum Federal safety standard requires a one-inch-thick inner liner made of polystyrene foam.
• Sturdy chin strip and rivets.
• A substantial weight. Helmets meeting the safety standard generally weight about 3 pounds.

Beware of “novelty helmets.” The NHTSA reports that retailers annually sell more than 800,000 of these unsafe helmets, which are usually peddled online, come in flashy colors and are less expensive than DOT-approved helmets. These helmets offer little protection and are bought for style rather than safety, and while they are cheaper, they may cost you your health in the event of an accident.

>> We want you to be safe out there on the road… but accidents still happen.
At Kentucky Farm Bureau, we’ve got agents in all 120 counties.  Click to find one near you.

As warmer temperatures hit the Bluegrass State, more and more Kentuckians will be out enjoying the weather via bicycle. Some may hop on a cruiser for a casual neighborhood pedal, while others might opt for a high-speed road ride to their favorite coffee shop.   

Americans are increasingly using bicycling as a true means of transportation – the number of cyclists traveling to and from work has more than doubled in the last decade. By law, bicycles on the roadway have the same rights and responsibilities as motorized vehicles. When it comes to the motorist-cyclist relationship, everyone needs to remember that it’s a two-way street! A mutual respect between drivers and bicyclists must exist for each type of traveler to arrive at their destination safely.

Check out these tips and help make Kentucky’s roadways peaceful for both those behind the wheel and those behind the handle bars:
 

If you are a bicyclist:

1. Do not drink and ride! In Kentucky, it’s actually illegal to operate a bike if your blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeds .08. Under KRS (Kentucky Revised Statute) 189.520, “No person under the influence of intoxicating beverages or any substance which may impair one's driving ability shall operate a vehicle that is not a motor vehicle anywhere in this state.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 21 percent of bicyclists killed in crashes had a BAC of .08 or higher – the illegal limit in most states.    
2. Get the right bike. One that’s too big or too small will be harder to control. Make sure it’s tuned up and works right (it doesn’t matter how well you ride if the brakes don’t work!).
3. Wear equipment that makes you more visible to others, like bright clothes during the day and reflective gear and lights/reflectors at night. According to the NHTSA, bicyclist deaths occur most often between 6 and 9 p.m.
4. Ride one per seat, with both hands on the handlebars!
5. Be predictable. Learn the proper turn signals and use them consistently. Ride where drivers expect to see you and go with the flow of traffic. Obey all traffic signals and signs as if you were in a car.
6. Avoid or minimize sidewalk riding. Cars don’t expect to see moving traffic on a sidewalk and don’t look for you when backing out of a driveway or turning. Sidewalks sometimes end unexpectedly, forcing the bicyclist into a road when a car isn’t expecting to look for a bicyclist.
7. Carry all items in a backpack or strapped to the back of the bike.
8. Tuck and tie your shoe laces and pant legs so they don’t get caught on your bike. Avoid baggy clothing or shoes that impede your ability to properly ride.
9. Plan your route carefully. If driving as a vehicle on the road, choose routes with less traffic and slower speeds. According to NHTSA, the vast majority (71 percent) of bike crashes happen in urban settings. Your safest route may be away from traffic altogether, in a bike lane or on a bike path.
    

If you are in a vehicle:

1. Do not underestimate the speed of a cyclist! This will help avoid turning in front of a bicyclist traveling on the road or sidewalk, often at an intersection or driveway.
2. Always search your surroundings for bicyclists, just like you would for other vehicles.
3. If you’re turning right on red, look to the right and behind to avoid hitting a bicyclist approaching from the right rear.
4. Give cyclists room! Kentucky state law says vehicles should leave at least three feet of space when passing bicyclists. Move back into the lane only when well clear of the bicyclist.
5. Understand a bicyclist’s vulnerability. In a collision, it’s a two-ton car versus a 20-pound bike.

Share the road! Click here for a complete look at Kentucky’s laws regarding drivers and bicyclists.   
 

>> We want you to be safe out there on the road… but accidents still happen.
At Kentucky Farm Bureau, we’ve got agents in all 120 counties. Click to find one near you.

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Pat is your local Shelby County Farm Bureau insurance agent!

Kentucky Farm Bureau has provided residents of the Bluegrass with quality insurance since 1943. As your local agent, I’m proud to serve the Shelby County community and take care of all your insurance needs with prompt service and personal attention. That’s what being Kentucky’s insurance company is all about. We offer home insurance, auto insurance, life insurance and more. Contact me today for a free quote!

Pat Hargadon has been an agent with Kentucky Farm Bureau in Shelby county since 1986. He has served an agency manager since 2000. Pat is an active member of the community and had earned numerous recognitions and awards for his service, most recently being named a 2019 WLKY Bell Award recipient. His current positions include:

• Director, Metro United Way
• Director, Shelby County Industrial Foundation
• Director, Citizens Union Bank
• Commissioner, US 60 Water District
• Director, Shelby County Community Foundation
• Director, Shelby Energy

Pat attended the University of Louisville and is a graduate of Leadership Kentucky and the Philip Morris Agriculture Leadership Development Program. Pat enjoys spending time with family and friends on the family farm where he grew up in Waddy, KY.

I’m very fortunate to have grown up on a family farm in Webster County. Our tradition, which began so many years ago, is alive and well today. With the farm being owned and operated by our family, it was a fairly easy process to take over when my time came.

We see many farms in Kentucky being passed down in much the same way from generation to generation.

That’s good in many cases, but it can still be complicated to transition farms even in the case of inheritance.

We also often hear of difficulties for those first-time farmers who don’t have access to land, and we continue to see valuable farmland being sold for non-agricultural use at prices that our farmers cannot make work.

With all that said, we’ve come to a crossroads where continued struggles in the transition process along with the ongoing loss of production farmland and family farms have to be addressed collaboratively to ensure the future of the farm.

By finding ways to transition current production farmland into the hands of new farmers, we can begin to slow the losses we have seen in the most recent agriculture census.

According to data contained in the last two ag censuses, which cover a total of 10 years, there has been a 10 percent drop in the number of Kentucky farms. In 2012, the census reported 77,064 farms in the Commonwealth. That number dwindled to 69,495 in 2022.

During that same period, there has been nearly a five percent decline in the number of farmed acres in Kentucky. While that doesn’t sound like a big percentage, when you look at the actual land area that is no longer being used for farming, it is a decrease of over 600,000 acres.

Perhaps the most telling of the census numbers, though, is total farm production costs have increased more than 28 percent over those same 10 years.

The good news is our farmers are the best producers in the world. We see increased yields of our crops regularly and have reached record farm cash receipts. And while the data before us can be daunting, one thing we can’t measure in numbers is the will of the human spirit.

Our farm families are so dedicated to their farming heritage. Enabling active and next generation farmers to carry on this historic tradition, which quite simply we all depend on, should be a priority for the entire agriculture industry, and frankly a priority for the protection of our food supply as a nation.

Kentucky Farm Bureau is announcing the creation of the Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative (KFTI) which will help get us on a sustainable path to ensure our farmland remains in agricultural production.

There will be more information coming soon and continuously as we initiate this program.

We cannot accomplish the goal of getting more farmland in the hands of active farmers by ourselves. This work requires being willing to start these conversations and collaborate to achieve this goal. If we work together as a collective agriculture industry and bring decision-makers at all levels to the discussion table, we can make this and other efforts successful. Stay tuned!

2024 Boyd County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting / Dinner

Monday, October 21, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.

Boyd County Extension Franks Community Building
1758 Addington Road
Ashland, KY 41102

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