Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.5A
Iowa Code Chapter 562 — Owner-Lessor and Tenant-Lessee
Operative Text
Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by a lessor and farm tenant, a farm tenant may take any part of the aboveground part of a plant associated with a crop, at the time of harvest or after the harvest, until the farm tenancy terminates as provided in this chapter.
Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.5A establishes a default rule for farm tenancies: unless a written agreement says otherwise, a farm tenant has the right to take any aboveground portion of a crop plant—whether at harvest time or afterward—up until the point the farm tenancy legally ends under Chapter 562. This rule sets the baseline expectation for what a tenant may remove from the land without needing additional permission.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.5A, the default entitlement for farm tenants to remove aboveground crop material can only be modified through a written agreement signed by both the lessor and the farm tenant. Operators who wish to restrict or adjust what a tenant may take—such as limiting post-harvest gleaning or stover removal—generally document those terms clearly in the lease before the tenancy begins. Keeping written lease terms specific and up to date helps ensure that both parties share a common understanding of crop-removal rights throughout the tenancy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.5A gives farm tenants a statutory right to remove aboveground crop material at or after harvest, continuing until the tenancy terminates under Chapter 562, unless a written agreement limits that right. Tenants who believe this right is being interfered with may wish to review their written lease carefully to determine whether any modification was agreed upon in writing. Tenant-rights organizations, agricultural law clinics, or a licensed Iowa attorney can help clarify how this provision applies to a particular lease arrangement.
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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