WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture asks that all Navajo farmers and ranchers who are enrolled in the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Program, or AIF, disregard any communication received from CKP Insurance President Chuck Hemphill.
CKP Insurance and Mr. Hemphill were not renewed for 2025 by the Navajo Division of Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture in regard to Navajo Farmers and Ranchers Agriculture Infrastructure Fund benefits.
A new insurance agent has been retained to assist the Navajo Nation with the Pasture, Rangeland and Forage Insurance Program, known as PRF, that is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency.
This PRF insurance program was designed to help protect a producer’s operation from the risks of forage loss due to the lack of precipitation, or drought.
CKP violated the Nation’s procurement process, lacked transparency, and provided unsatisfactory customer service. The Navajo Nation has an obligation and fiduciary responsibility to obtain the best possible services at the best price.
Because of its non-selection, CKP is now pursuing aggressive tactics to try to force the Nation to reinstate the company as the Nation’s insurance agent.
CKP is now spreading misinformation and withholding information the Nation owns such as restricting access to the navajoaif.com website from NDOA staff.
CKP is using the AIF website database to circulate misinformation directly to thousands of farmers and ranchers. We ask that you disregard those improper communications.
CKP Insurance’s unwillingness to provide access to the information on the AIF website to the Navajo Department of Agriculture is placing the Livestock Management Incentive and Farm and Garden Incentive programs at risk of delayed incentive payments.
The Department of Agriculture is working closely with the Navajo Department of Justice to obtain rights to the website to secure all AIF website information. All other AIF projects within DNR departments are secure and will continue as scheduled.
The Department of Agriculture will work to develop AIF incentive applications for 2025 to continue to provide benefits to all our farmers and ranchers.
Thank you for your understanding, support and patience as the Nation transitions to a more professional insurance agent.
