Iowa Resources
We have written detailed reviews of Iowa law impacting agricultural producers and landowners. Access these reviews by clicking on the tiles below. You can also review Iowa cases on a particular subject by searching our list of Iowa case law reviews at the bottom of this page.
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April 10, 2024|
On March 27th, 2024, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s ruling that a trust could not be terminated.
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March 21, 2024|
On January 24, 2024, the Iowa Court of Appeals, in a split decision, overturned a district court’s ruling that an Iowa Limited Liability Company (LLC) lacked standing to sue one of its members when it did not obtain defendant member’s consent to s
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March 21, 2024|
On March 6, 2024, the Iowa Court of Appeals found that a family settlement agreement was invalid. The agreement was executed prior to the testator’s death and two of the signers had predeceased the testator.
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March 7, 2024|
On January 24, 2024, the Iowa Court of Appeals ruled that a district court improperly determined that the heirs of deceased beneficiaries were to receive the deceased beneficiaries’ shares of a testamentary trust.
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February 22, 2024|
On January 24, 2024, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed a district court’s partition order. The judge ordered a hybrid partition, where a portion of the partitioned property would be sold, and the other portion given in-kind to one owner.
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February 12, 2024|
On February 2nd, 2024, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed both the Court of Appeals and district court's finding that the injured plaintiff failed to bring forth evidence that the owner of a cow that caused an accident on Interstate 8
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January 24, 2024|
On January 10, 2024, the Iowa Court of Appeals held that the district court improperly considered extrinsic evidence when interpreting a will. The decedent’s will directed one farm property to be held in a trust and the other farm property be evenly divided between her three children. Based on the testimony of the scrivener of the will, the district court concluded that the testator intended both parcels to be placed in the trust. Because the will was not ambiguous, extrinsic evidence was inadmissible. Thus, the Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s order.
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January 19, 2024|
Many landowners have land that borders a road.
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January 11, 2024|Note: In 2024, the Iowa Legislature reinstated the capital gain deduction for the sale of breeding, draft, dairy, and sport livestock, retroactively to include the 2023 tax year. Read more about this change.
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December 18, 2023|
On November 21, 2023, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed that Iowa’s partition law did not apply to farmland owned by a trust.
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November 6, 2023|
On October 11, 2023, the Iowa Court of Appeals found that one brother failed to properly account to his brothers for the farming proceeds received while marketing organic crops.
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October 27, 2023|
On October 11, 2023, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the district court when it ruled that one owner of tenancy-in-common could not terminate a farm lease entered into by a life estate holder without the permission of the other co-owners.
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September 12, 2023|
After disagreements over the boundary line between two neighbors occurred, the plaintiffs brought this lawsuit alleging boundary by acquiescence and adverse possession. The trial court found that the plaintiffs had maintained the 8.5-foot strip of land and ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. On appeal, the court found that the plaintiffs only began maintaining the disputed area six years earlier when the defendants purchased the adjoining parcel. Because the plaintiffs did not meet the statutory ten-year requirement for either claim, the Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s ruling.
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July 24, 2023|
Beginning July 1, 2023, Iowa producers can sell raw milk within the state under certain conditions. SF 315 provides requirements for the production, sale, and testing of raw milk, raw milk dairy products, and raw milk products. Previously, only Grade “A” pasteurized milk and milk products could be sold. Iowa Code § 192.103 (2022). Before selling raw milk, producers should carefully consider the specific restrictions under the law and potential liabilities.
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July 14, 2023|
On July 13, 2023, the Iowa Court of Appeals held that a soybean buyer repudiated the contract when it repeatedly delayed and prevented delivery of soybeans from the farmer.
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July 7, 2023|
A semi-truck collided with a cow standing on the interstate. The driver brought a negligence lawsuit against the livestock owner claiming that he suffered personal injuries and property damage. The district court determined that the driver failed to prove that the livestock owner breached a duty of care. On appeal, the court affirmed that there was insufficient evidence that the owner failed to use ordinary care to constrain the animal.
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Helping Neighbor with Livestock Not Included in Iowa’s Domesticated Animal Activity Liability Shield
July 6, 2023|In a June 21 ruling, the Iowa Court of Appeals held that helping a neighbor get a downed heifer back on its feet is not a “domesticated animal activity” under Iowa Code § 673.1(3) and therefore Iowa Code § 673.2 does not provides liability immunit
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June 30, 2023|
Note: On November 22, 2024, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that survey access by the pipeline company was not an unconstitutional taking.
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June 28, 2023|
To collect $106,898 of unpaid income taxes from the estate of Francis Glaser, the Iowa Department of Revenue (IDOR) sought to set aside Glaser’s predeath transfers of real estate to his friend. The Iowa Supreme Court held that fraudulent conveyances may only be voided to the extent necessary to pay the debts and charges of the estate. Iowa Code § 633.368. On remand, the friend argued that income taxes are not a debt of the estate. The Court of Appeals disagreed and found that the properties could be sold to satisfy the estate’s debts including IDOR’s claim. However, any remaining funds or unsold properties must be returned to the decedent’s friend.
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June 27, 2023|
A fence ran slightly north of the boundary line between two parcels of land.