Ala. Code §§ 35-9-1 to 35-9-100 § 35-9-37
Relation Between Party Furnishing Land and Party Furnishing Labor.
Operative Text
When one party furnishes the land and the other party furnishes the labor to cultivate it, with stipulations, express or implied, to divide the crop between them in certain proportions, the relation of landlord and tenant, with all its incidents, and to all intents and purposes, shall be held to exist between them; and the portion of the crop to which the party furnishing the land is entitled shall be held and treated as the rent of the land; and this shall be true whether or not by express agreement or by implication the party furnishing the land is to furnish all or a portion of the teams to cultivate it, all or a portion of the feed for the teams, all or a portion of the planting seed, all or a portion of the fertilizer to be used on the crop or pay for putting in marketable condition his proportion of the crop after the same has been harvested by the tenant.
Alabama Code § 35-9-37 establishes that when one party supplies land and another supplies labor to farm it, with an agreement—written or implied—to split the resulting crop in set proportions, the law treats that arrangement as a standard landlord-tenant relationship. The landowner's share of the crop is legally considered rent. This classification holds regardless of whether the landowner also contributes equipment, animal feed, seed, fertilizer, or post-harvest processing costs.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 35-9-37, landowners who enter into crop-share arrangements are treated as landlords for all legal purposes, and their portion of the harvest is treated as rent. Compliant operators typically document the agreed crop-sharing proportions clearly, along with any contributions of equipment, seed, or fertilizer, to avoid disputes about the nature of the arrangement. Because the full landlord-tenant framework applies, landowners generally observe all corresponding statutory rights and obligations that accompany that legal relationship under Alabama law.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 35-9-37 means that a farmworker or cultivator who splits a crop with a landowner is legally a tenant, entitled to the protections and subject to the responsibilities that come with that status under Alabama law. The cultivator's share of the crop is distinct from rent, while the landowner's share constitutes rent—a distinction that can matter if a dispute arises over possession, liens, or crop proceeds. Tenants in crop-share arrangements who believe their rights under this provision have been violated may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Alabama agricultural tenancy law.
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 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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