Iowa Cash Rent Farm Lease Short Form

This form can provide the owner and operator with a guide for developing an agreement to ﬁt their individual situation.

This form is not intended to take the place of legal advice pertaining to contractual relationships between the two parties.

Iowa Cash Rent Farm Lease (Short Form) for 20

Owner (s):

Operator (s):

1. Legal Description:

2. Terms of Lease: The term of the lease shall be for a period of year (s), beginning March 1, 20 . After

expiration of the initial term, the lease shall continue from year to year, unless terminated by a separate written

agreement or by statutory termination notice served by either party on or before September 1, as directed by Iowa

law, effective the following March 1.

There are contract acres available according to county FSA records (FSA form 578).

The following housing, buildings and storage structures located on the Real Estate may be used by the Operator

for the following purposes:

Structure Purpose

In the event of damage or destruction of buildings or structures listed above the Owner will have the option to

replace them or provide their functional equivalent to the Operator for the purpose described above within a

reasonable period of time, or make adjustments to the terms of this lease in lieu of replacement.

Cash Rent: Operator agrees to pay the Owner cash rent for the use of part or all of the Real Estate as follows:

Description

Amount

Cropland

acres @ $ /acre $

Cropland

acres @ $ /acre $

Established hay land

acres @ $ /acre $

Pasture

acres @ $ /acre $

Buildings and storage structures, housing

Total annual rent

The cash rent shall be due and payable as follows:

Due Date Amount $

All cash rent is to be mailed or delivered to the Owner at:

FM 1874 /C2-16 Revised July 2016

date owner (s) initials operator (s) initials page 1 of 3

5. USDA Commodity Program Payments: Payments shall be paid to the Operator unless otherwise agreed on with

the Farm Service Agency.

Recreational Use: Use of the real estate is not allowed for hunting or other recreational purposes without written

consent of the Owner.

Division of Expense: All crop production expenses are the responsibility of the Operator. Cost of lime and

application will be treated as follows:

8. Expenses: No expense shall be incurred by the Operator for or on account of the Owner without ﬁrst obtaining

written permission from the Owner. The Operator agrees to take no actions that might cause a mechanic’s or other

lien to be imposed upon the Real Estate and agrees to indemnify the Owner if actions are taken by the Operator

that result in such a lien being imposed.

Repair and Maintenance: Minor repairs for buildings and fences: Owner will furnish all materials and Operator

will provide the labor at no charge. New fence: Owner to furnish all materials and one-half of the cost of labor.

Operator to provide one-half of the labor and all of the equipment to construct fence. Owner will pay 100% of the

cost to clear fence row when necessary.

10.

Operator’s Duties: Operator agrees to operate the farm in an efﬁcient and steward-like manner, control weeds and

brush in the ﬁelds, fence rows, and road ditches, provide proper maintenance to control erosion and maintain

terraces, waterways, and tiles, and building lots and all other areas of the farm where access is possible. The Operator

agrees to furnish to the Owner by December 15 an annual report including 1) a summary of fertilizer, lime, and

pesticide application records and 2) production or yield information about harvested crops each year, such as may

be required for participation in Farm Service Agency programs or for setting crop insurance actual production

history yields, and to use measurement methods acceptable for these purposes. Operator agrees, on termination

of the lease, to yield prompt possession of the farm to the Owner and to leave the premises in as good condition as

before they took possession or to compensate the Owner for damages.

11.

Owner’s Duties: Owner agrees to warrant and defend the Operator’s possession against all persons as long as this

lease remains in effect. The Owner will promptly pay real property taxes and carry insurance on his/her interest

in the property.

12.

Harvested Crop’s Aboveground Plants: Operator does not have the right to take any part of the harvested crop’s

aboveground plant without the express written permission of the Owner. This includes burning or removing any

crop residues from the property.

13.

Transfer of Interest: The Operator agrees not to lease or sublet any part of the Real Estate nor assign this lease to

any other person or entity, nor sublease any or all of the property described herein without prior written permission

of the Owner. This lease shall be binding upon the heirs, assignees, or successors in interest of both parties. If the

Owner should sell or otherwise transfer title to the Real Estate, the Owner will do so subject to the provisions of

this lease.

14.

Changes in Lease Terms: The conduct, representation, or statement of either party, by act or omission, shall not

be construed as a material alteration of this lease until such provision is reduced to writing and executed by both

parties as an addendum to this lease.

15.

Right of Entry: The Owner reserves the right to enter the premises at any time for any reasonable purpose. Upon

notice of the lease termination, the Operator agrees to permit the Owner or the Owner’s lessee or agent to enter the

premise to do customary tillage and operations on any land from which the current crops have been harvested

date owner (s) initials operator (s) initials page 2 of 3

16. Owner’s Landlord’s Lien and Security Interest. The Operator acknowledges that a statutory Landlord’s Lien

exists in favor of the Owner. The Operator also grants to the Owner a security interest in, but not limited to, all

growing or mature crops on the Real Estate as provided in the Iowa Uniform Commercial Code. The Operator shall

sign all documents and ﬁnancing statements as requested by the Owner to perfect the Owner’s security interests.

At Owner’s request, the Operator shall provide the Owner a list of potential buyers for the crops grown on the farm.

The Operator agrees to deliver and sell such crops only to those buyers listed. The Owner shall deliver a Notice of

Security Interest to those buyers and only those buyers listed. The Operator shall not sell such crops to any buyer

not listed without ﬁrst obtaining written consent of the Owner.

17.

Termination upon Default: If either party defaults in the performance of the existing rental agreement, the non-

defaulting party shall serve a notice of default upon the defaulting party. The defaulting party shall have days

to cure the default. Failure to cure within the required timeframe shall terminate the lease. If the lease terminates

because the Operator failed to pay the rent due, all costs and attorney fees of the Owner to enforce collection or

performance shall be added to the obligations payable by the Operator. The Operator shall also be liable for interest

on the unpaid rent at the rate of % APR.

18.

Other Provisions:

19. Arbitration: Any disputes between the Owner and Operator not covered by this lease may be submitted by either

party for arbitration at a reasonable fee by three disinterested persons, one of whom shall be selected by the Owner,

one by the Operator, and the third by the previously named two. If and when disputes are submitted, a majority

decision of the arbitrators shall be binding upon the parties to the lease.

We agree to the terms and conditions of this lease and we afﬁx our signatures this day of

, 20 .

Signature of Operator Signature of Owner

Signature of Spouse/Co-operator

Signature of Spouse/Co-owner

For (business entity)

By (owner’s representative)

Address Address

Telephone

Optional Notarization

STATE OF , COUNTY OF ss:

This record was acknowledged before me this day of, , by

Signature of Notary Public

page 3 of 3

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and

marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA clients. To ﬁle a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Ofﬁce of Civil

Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964.