<ARTICLE>                                           7
<CIK>                         0001013564
<NAME>                        Farm Family Holdings, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   Dec-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           259,199
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          8,855
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            9,194
<EQUITIES>                                     4,521
<MORTGAGE>                                     1,660
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 280,431
<CASH>                                         5,841
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             12,343
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         12,613
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 371,231
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                156,622
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            66,069
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 21,474
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                1,268
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       53
<OTHER-SE>                                     7,392
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   371,231
<PREMIUMS>                                     149,220
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            18,077
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             5,406
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 1,020
<BENEFITS>                                     103,301
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    43,320
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                26,718
<INCOME-TAX>                                   9,218
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            17,500
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   17,500
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  3.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  3.32
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 141,220
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            107,273
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                              (3,972)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                             49,858
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                               40,258
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                156,622
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                        3,972