Vereinigte Hagelversicherung

Vereinigte Hagelversicherung VVaG is a German mutual insurance association (Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit) specialising in crop and agricultural insurance. It was formed in 1993 through the merger of two former German market leaders, Norddeutsche Hagelversicherung VVaG and Leipziger Hagel VVaG, the latter founded in 1824. The association's statutory purpose is to insure its members against material damage — specifically yield losses — in the production of agricultural and horticultural products, in particular from hail and other natural hazards. The company describes itself as the leading specialist insurer in plant cultivation (Pflanzenbau). Its policyholders are farmers, gardeners, winegrowers, hop growers and fruit and vegetable producers. In Germany, roughly 60 percent of the agricultural area insured against hail damage is covered by Vereinigte Hagel. Across Europe the association insures approximately 5.3 million hectares of agricultural and horticultural land with a risk volume of EUR 9.4 billion (2017), making it both the German and the European market leader. It operates through about 1,000 experts (Sachverständige), 2,000 intermediaries and 70 field staff. Beyond its core German market, it offers cover in Denmark, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Croatia and Poland. Vereinigte Hagel offers innovative insurance solutions for the sustainable protection of agricultural businesses against weather-related risks such as hail, storm, heavy rain, frost and drought. Alongside damage-based insurance options — in which damaged cultivated areas are assessed by its own experts — it also provides index insurance for gradual crop losses caused by prolonged drought. Its in-house experimental programme and close exchange with the agricultural profession allow it to design practical insurance products and to handle claims according to the latest research findings. As a mutual, Vereinigte Hagel is answerable only to its insured members; there are no anonymous shareholders, and surpluses benefit the insured farms. Members are simultaneously policyholders and owners of the association, with information and co-determination rights. Together with Gartenbau-Versicherung VVaG in Wiesbaden, Vereinigte Hagel forms the AgroRisk-Gruppe, with mutual reinsurance contracts and further holdings. The wholly owned subsidiary arismo GmbH (formerly AGRO-EDV Rechenzentrum GmbH) supports the group's IT and data processing. In 2018 the company extended its Secufarm product line with Secufarm Garant, adding individually selectable iModules that let members tailor their insurance to their specific farm conditions. In 2026 the association announced plans to merge with Gartenbau-Versicherung VVaG, and it continues to develop drought insurance based on a new index of plant-available soil moisture.

Vereinigte Hagelversicherung VVaG was created in 1993 through the merger of two former German market leaders in hail insurance: Norddeutsche Hagelversicherung VVaG and Leipziger Hagel VVaG. The Leipziger Hagel traces its origins to 1824, making it one of the oldest hail insurance institutions in Germany. The merged association adopted the legal form of a Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit (VVaG), a mutual insurance association owned by its policyholders. The statutory purpose of the association is to insure its members against material damage — specifically yield losses — in the production of agricultural and horticultural products, in particular from hail and other natural hazards. Its policyholders are farmers, gardeners, winegrowers, hop growers and fruit and vegetable producers. Over the decades the company grew into the leading specialist insurer in plant cultivation in Germany and Europe. By 2017 it insured approximately 5.3 million hectares of agricultural and horticultural land across Europe with a risk volume of EUR 9.4 billion, and in Germany around 60 percent of the agricultural area insured against hail damage was covered by Vereinigte Hagel. It operates through roughly 1,000 experts, 2,000 intermediaries and 70 field staff. Beyond its German home market, the association expanded its offering to Denmark, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Croatia and Poland. Together with Gartenbau-Versicherung VVaG in Wiesbaden, it forms the AgroRisk-Gruppe, with mutual reinsurance contracts and further holdings. The wholly owned subsidiary arismo GmbH (formerly AGRO-EDV Rechenzentrum GmbH) handles IT and data processing for the group. Product development has been a continuous theme. In 2018 the company extended its Secufarm product line with Secufarm Garant, adding individually selectable iModules that allow members to tailor their insurance to their specific farm conditions. Alongside damage-based insurance options assessed by its own experts, the company also offers index insurance for gradual crop losses caused by prolonged drought. In 2026 it announced a further development of its drought insurance based on a new index of plant-available soil moisture, with a drought stress account enabling automatic compensation. In the same year, Gartenbau-Versicherung VVaG and Vereinigte Hagelversicherung VVaG announced their intention to merge, pooling their strengths. As a mutual, Vereinigte Hagel is answerable only to its insured members; there are no anonymous shareholders, and surpluses benefit the insured farms. Members are simultaneously policyholders and owners, with information and co-determination rights. The Supervisory Board consists of 15 members elected by delegates of the members at the members' representative assembly. The delegates are elected by roughly 100,000 members organised in 65 district associations. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board is Jens Stechmann, a fruit grower in the Altes Land region.

• 2026

  Gartenbau-Versicherung VVaG and Vereinigte Hagelversicherung VVaG announce their intention to merge.

• 2026

  VEREINIGTE HAGEL develops its drought insurance further with a new index based on plant-available soil moisture.

• 2018

  Secufarm Garant is introduced, extending the Secufarm product line with individually selectable iModules.

• 2017

  The association insures approximately 5.3 million hectares across Europe with a risk volume of EUR 9.4 billion, making it German and European market leader.

• 1993

  Vereinigte Hagelversicherung VVaG is formed through the merger of Norddeutsche Hagelversicherung VVaG and Leipziger Hagel VVaG.

• 1824

  Leipziger Hagel VVaG, one of the predecessor companies, is founded.

Leading specialist insurer in plant cultivation and the German and European market leader in crop insurance, operating as a member-owned mutual (VVaG).

• Secufarm

  Damage-based crop insurance where damaged cultivated areas are assessed by the company's own experts.

• Secufarm Garant

  Extension of the Secufarm line introduced in 2018 with individually selectable iModules for tailoring cover to individual farm conditions.

• Drought index insurance

  Index insurance for gradual crop losses caused by prolonged drought, further developed in 2026 with a new index based on plant-available soil moisture.

• Hail, storm, heavy rain and frost insurance

  Core weather-risk covers for agricultural and horticultural production.

1. 1VEREINIGTE HAGEL - Ernteversicherung für Ihre Kulturenvereinigte-hagel.net
2. 2Über uns - VEREINIGTE HAGEL: Mit der Nr.1 auf Nummer sicher gehenvereinigte-hagel.net
3. 3Geschäftsberichte - VEREINIGTE HAGEL: Mit der Nr.1 auf Nummer sicher gehenvereinigte-hagel.net
4. 4Vereinigte Hagelversicherungwikidata.org
5. 5Vereinigte Hagelversicherungde.wikipedia.org