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A lot of Iowa farm ground is rented, and plenty of those deals run on a handshake. In this episode, Jen Zahradnik of Legal Solutions of Iowa explains why a written lease protects both landlord and tenant, the two main ways folks rent ground, and the one date that catches people every year: September 1.

Key Takeaways

• Get it in writing. A written lease protects the tenant and the landlord, and keeps everyone on the same page years down the road.
• Know your options. Cash rent is a set dollar amount per acre. With crop share, the landlord takes an agreed share of the crop. Neither is automatically right.
• Circle September 1. To end a farm lease, you generally have to give proper notice by September 1. Miss it, and the lease renews for another full crop year on the same terms.
• Do the notice right. A notice that isn't given properly is the same as no notice at all, so talk with a lawyer.

Need help with a farm lease? Call Legal Solutions of Iowa at 319-444-3285 or visit www.legalsolutionsofiowa.com.

Coming next: A guest walks us through how a farm sale really works, start to finish. Subscribe so you don't miss it, and share this episode with someone who rents ground.

The Back Forty is for general information and education only. It is not legal advice, and listening to it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is different, and the law changes. Talk with a licensed attorney about your specific circumstances.