An insurance policy, marketed and underwritten by private insurers, that covers
hail damage to insured crops. Farmers often purchase this coverage in areas of
the country susceptible to hail, particularly for high-yielding crops. Unlike
federal crop insurance, the federal government does not subsidize crop-hail
insurance. Licensed insurance agents sell it and the premiums depend, for a
large part, on past loss experience. The coverage is township or county rated;
in other words, the rate is determined by the historical hail loss experience
of that particular township or county. The perils of fire and wind can be added
to this coverage; although the availability of these extensions varies by state
and by type of crop.