Iowa Code ch. 570 § 570.4
Limitation on lien in case of crop failure
Operative Text
1. In cases of farm leases involving the rental of farmlands of forty acres or more, where the tenant has defaulted in the payment of the rent and suit has been commenced aided by landlord’s attachment for the enforcement of the landlord’s lien, the defendant may file as a defense that the default or inability to pay is caused or brought about by reason of drought, flood, hail, storms, or other climatic conditions or infestation of pests affecting the crops in controversy. When such a defense has been filed, the issue as to the cause for the default shall be triable as an equitable action. Upon the hearing, if the court finds that the default or inability to pay is due to drought, flood, hail, storm, or other climatic conditions or infestation of pests affecting the crops in controversy, the court may enter a decree pursuant thereto with the court’s finding of fact. Where a decree has been entered finding that the inability to pay was brought about by any of the conditions named in this section, the landlord’s lien shall be confined to all of the crops grown and raised upon the premises and to all increase in livestock and hogs raised upon the premises. 2. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any farm leases executed prior to July 4, 1941.
Iowa Code ch. 570 § 570.4 addresses farm leases covering forty or more acres where a tenant has fallen behind on rent and the landlord has initiated a lawsuit with an attachment to enforce a lien. Under this provision, if a court determines that the tenant's inability to pay was caused by drought, flood, hail, storms, other climatic conditions, or pest infestation affecting the crops at issue, the landlord's lien is limited — it may only attach to crops grown on the premises and to increases in livestock and hogs raised there, rather than reaching the tenant's other assets. This protection applies only to farm leases executed on or after July 4, 1941.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Landlords managing farmland leases of forty or more acres under Iowa Code ch. 570 § 570.4 should be aware that their lien rights can be judicially narrowed when a tenant raises a crop-failure defense in an attachment proceeding. A compliant operator generally documents the full scope of crops and livestock on the leased premises, since those assets define the boundary of the lien if a court finds that climatic conditions or pest infestation caused the default. Operators also confirm that any lease was executed on or after July 4, 1941, as leases predating that date fall outside this provision's scope.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants farming forty or more acres under a qualifying lease may have a defense available under Iowa Code ch. 570 § 570.4 if drought, flood, hail, storms, other climatic events, or pest infestation caused their inability to pay rent. When a landlord files suit and seeks an attachment, a tenant can raise this defense, which triggers an equitable hearing where the court examines the cause of the default; if the court agrees, the landlord's lien is confined to crops and livestock increases on the premises. Tenants facing such proceedings may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Iowa agricultural law to understand how this defense might apply to their circumstances.
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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