Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.5
Termination of farm tenancies
Operative Text
In the case of a farm tenancy, the notice must fix the termination of the farm tenancy to take place on the first day of March, except in cases of a mere cropper, whose farm tenancy shall terminate when the crop is harvested. However, if the crop is corn, the termination shall not be later than the first day of December, unless otherwise agreed upon.
Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.5 establishes specific termination dates for farm tenancies in Iowa. Under this provision, a notice to terminate a farm tenancy must set the end date as March 1st, rather than allowing an arbitrary date chosen by either party. An exception applies to 'mere croppers,' whose tenancy ends when the crop is harvested—though if the crop is corn, that termination cannot extend past December 1st unless both parties have agreed otherwise.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.5, operators managing farm tenancies must ensure that any termination notice specifies March 1st as the end date of the tenancy. Landlords dealing with cropper arrangements should be aware that the tenancy concludes at harvest, but corn-crop arrangements carry a hard deadline of December 1st absent a written agreement extending that date. Compliant farm landlords typically document any alternative termination dates in a clear written agreement to avoid disputes over when the tenancy legally ends.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.5 provides farm tenants with a degree of predictability by anchoring tenancy termination to March 1st, giving tenants a defined window to plan for transitions. Croppers in particular should note that their tenancy ends at harvest, and if the crop is corn, the law sets December 1st as the latest termination date unless a different date was mutually agreed upon. Farm tenants who believe a termination notice does not comply with these statutory requirements may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Iowa agricultural tenancy law to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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