Rural Mutual Insurance, Wisconsin’s top farm insurer, has entered an affiliation agreement with Badger Mutual Insurance. This partnership brings together two Wisconsin-based companies, focusing on shared resources while preserving each company’s identity.
Rural Mutual Insurance CEO Dan Merk explains the move: “In the past few years, disruptions across the industry have increased, especially here in the Midwest. We’ve worked closely with the Badger team since late 2023, and it became clear that this is a strong fit for both companies.”
Both insurers operate extensively within Wisconsin, but Merk says the affiliation strategically expands Rural Mutual’s reach to areas surrounding the state. “Badger Mutual’s strong presence in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan was attractive to us,” Merk added. “Plus, with their Milwaukee headquarters, they complement our reach.”
Merk emphasizes that this collaboration is strictly an affiliation—not an acquisition or merger. “This is about resource sharing and benefiting from scale, not about merging into one entity,” he explained. “Rural Mutual and Badger will each continue to operate independently. We aim to keep serving our customers as we always have.”
Existing Rural Mutual customers can rest assured that their service and coverage will remain unchanged. “Our priority is to maintain the service excellence we’re known for,” said Merk. “Rural Mutual will continue offering its dividend program and dedicated farm products. Customers can expect the same exceptional service they’ve always received.”
To keep customers informed, Rural Mutual has engaged in meetings with agents and employees, equipping them with details to share with customers. “For questions, customers are encouraged to reach out to their Rural Mutual agents, who are ready to help,” Merk concluded.
