Opinion ID: 784931
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Growing Crops Exclusion

Text: 39 Aon contends the district court erroneously concluded that the growing crops exclusion of the DIC policy only applied to crops grown by ADM. In contrast to the district court's conclusion, Aon argues the exclusion applies to crops grown by farmers who supplied corn to ADM through local and county grain elevators. Because this issue involves the district court's interpretation of the DIC policy, we apply a de novo standard of review. United Fire & Cas. Co., 258 F.3d at 718. 40 Section 5 of the DIC policy sets forth the scope of ADM's property covered under the policy. Section 7 of the policy specifies what property is excluded from coverage, including land, trees, plants, and growing crops. The coverages provided in Section 13Q, however, apply to the real or personal property ... of any supplier. Having reviewed the policy as a whole, we conclude the exclusions in Section 7 apply only to limit the property covered by Section 5 and do not apply to Section 13Q. Section 13Q does not reference any exclusions or other limitations on the scope of the suppliers' property that is covered. In contrast, Section 5 specifically provides that ADM's property is covered except as herein excluded. Therefore, the district court did not err in concluding that the growing crops exclusion contained in Section 7 applies only to claims involving ADM's property and not to claims involving the property of ADM's suppliers.