Throughout the month of July, we have seen a number of freak weather events across the UK, these have given sharp rise to the number of hail damage to growing crop claims. Crawford has received numerous claims instructions from leading rural insurers in the UK for damage to top fruit and oilseed rape.
Crawford Agriculture has responded with the assistance of our bespoke agricultural drone service. Our experts and in-house agronomists have undertaken investigations including the use of NDVI (Normalised Digital Vegetation Index) surveys of the affected areas which enable us to rapidly assess the amount of damage (yield reduction), potential future impact on plant health and accurately ascertain quantum.
NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) is a technology primarily used to measure plant health based on how the plant reflects light at certain frequencies; some ‘waves’ are absorbed and others are reflected. Plant chlorophyll absorbs visible light, and the cellular structure of the leaves reflect near-infrared light. NDVI is calculated from the visible and near-infrared light reflected by vegetation. Healthy vegetation absorbs most of the visible light that hits it, and reflects a large portion of the near-infrared light. Unhealthy or sparse vegetation reflects more visible light and less near-infrared light.
Crawford Agriculture is the first specialist agricultural adjusters to use NDVI technology across the globe. Last year the use of NDVI provided claim savings in excess of £220,000 on one claim for a UK-based insurer.
Crawford Agriculture delivers a consistent and tailored service right across the UK via our ring-fenced, experienced and qualified agricultural adjusters and specialist consultants nationwide. Our team ranges from agronomists to horticulturalists to livestock professionals to bloodstock experts.
If you would like to discover more about or specialist agricultural services and bespoke drone applications please contact one of our in-house experts – Max Perris or Yvonne Aplin. Or contact Crawford Agriculture via agri@crawco.co.uk with any new claim instructions.
