La. Civ. Code § Art. 2705
Abatement of rent for unforeseen loss of crops
Operative Text
Art. 2705. Abatement of rent for unforeseen loss of crops In the absence of a contrary agreement, the agricultural lessee may not claim an abatement of the rent for the loss of his unharvested crops unless the loss was due to an unforeseeable and extraordinary event that destroyed at least one-half of the value of the crops. Any compensation that the lessee has received or may receive in connection with the loss, such as insurance proceeds or government subsidies, shall be taken into account in determining the amount of abatement.
Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2705 addresses when an agricultural tenant may seek a reduction in rent after losing unharvested crops. Under this provision, such a reduction is generally unavailable unless an unforeseeable and extraordinary event destroyed at least half the crop's value, and any insurance payouts or government subsidies the tenant received or will receive are factored into calculating how much of a reduction, if any, applies. Parties to a farm lease may contractually agree to different terms, in which case those agreed-upon terms govern instead.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under La. Civ. Code Art. 2705, agricultural landlords are generally protected from rent abatement claims unless a tenant can demonstrate that an unforeseeable, extraordinary event wiped out at least half the crop value. Compliant operators typically document any insurance proceeds or government subsidies a tenant receives following a crop loss, since those amounts offset any abatement that might otherwise be owed. Landlords who wish to set different standards for abatement eligibility generally do so through an explicit written agreement in the lease itself.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
La. Civ. Code Art. 2705 establishes that agricultural tenants have a limited right to seek reduced rent when an extraordinary, unforeseeable event destroys at least half the value of their unharvested crops. Tenants pursuing such a claim should be aware that any compensation already received or expected—such as crop insurance or federal farm subsidies—will be counted against the abatement amount. Tenants who believe they may qualify can consult a tenant-rights organization or an attorney familiar with Louisiana agricultural lease law to understand the general process for raising this claim.
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 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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