Not so much mad, but very disapointed (long)

My neighbor dairy farmer (successful contractor turned farmer) has been renting our 45 +/- acre river flat land for the past several years. I kinda thought he was under paying us but its the deal he made with my late father and I just went along with it.
Well this spring I noticed that the cows are gone along with the hired man so I figure he's called it quits.
So yesterday I see a strange rig discing his nearby corn ground, so I figure if he's not doing custom work for my neighbor, maybe he would be interested in renting mine
I went and introduced myself,asked the question and surprise! he says he's rented my ground already from Mr dairy farmer!
Well,we got that straightened out immediately and now he's renting what's mine from me for 3x what Mr dairy farmer was.
So much for being good neighbors. Oh, and to top it off, Mr dairy farmer dropped off a check for the normal rent amount with the memo"land rent" today. He must not know I spoke to the new renter.
I will be returning it.

Did Mr Dairyfarmer have a written lease? If he did,I'd think he had the right to sublease it until the lease runs out. You might be hoping he'll give you the check again,take it or leave it.

No lease written or expressed.

I think I'd be ready to wring his neck then.

(quoted from post at 18:47:57 05/12/15) I think I'd be ready to wring his neck then.

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Had a feller here that not only did that to an old widow but was selling hunting leases on her land to boot. That went away real quick when her grandson got out of the Marines and decided to live at the farm. Grandma had moved into town by then and didn't really know what was going on. The guy in question seems to think if he acts crazy people will be afraid of him but it isn't working too well for him. He's been walking pretty small for a few years now. He did try pulling a fast one on another neighbor about 4 years ago. Rented about 60 acres from the neighbor and without asking or telling planted alfalfa with oats as a nurse crop. The land owner was under the impression that all that was planted was oats. The next spring the guy shows up to pay "this years rent". Guy says I'm renting it to someone else. Guy says you can't, I planted alfalfa. The guy says well you better stay off my property until I consult a lawyer. The jerk then offers to pay more than the new tenant. So the guy kinda knew he was good and called a lawyer anyway. Got told if he planted without permission or a lease it's his loss. Land owner called the new tenant and told him about the deal and the new tenant upped the cash rent because of the hay ground. Ever sense then the jerk has been running around telling everyone that "he dropped it cause he is such a nice guy". Really don't much care for people like that. I really like it when it comes around and bites em in the butt.

But we have a real rent issue in the area. Seems that most of the rentable land is leased to the BTOs. And these guys will back bite something terrible. Don't matter how small. One guy tried convincing my BIL to tell my MIL to let him rent the land. A whole 7.5 acres. Claimed that I was just growing weeds. He waited aboooout two weeks after we buried my FIL. I had already taken one cutting and was about ready for the 2nd. That's in Alfalfa too so it isn't weeds. Go figure, BTO worried over 7.5 acres. Just cause it's right there by some of his other fields he wants it.

Rick

(quoted from post at 18:47:57 05/12/15) I think I'd be ready to wring his neck then.

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That about sums it up. I am sure he knew he was in the wrong the whole time.

In some states like Iowa, a verbal agreement stands until you give written notice by a cutoff date - September I believe.

Especially if over 40 acres in some states.

You could easily be on the hook for the lower rent for one more year, in some places.

I understand the fella was taking you and be just as disappointed, but just saying, legally....... You could have a fight in some states.

Paul

Here is a summery of the Iowa law. Other states typically have less entrenched farm land rental rules, but can be similar, depending on your state. Check out the 'termination' paragraph.

Note that in any sort of rental arrangement, if notice is not given in writing by sept 1st, the renter can rent the property for another year at the same rates.....

Paul
Iowa farm land rent

What a S.O.B.
Don't worry, karma always catches crooks like him at some point.

Its too late in the year to cancel an Ag Lease, whether written or verbal.

I agree with Iowa Jim.

Him leasing is one thing him subleasing to someone else is a whole different matter.Laws are pretty strange in your state on leasing farmland not like most of the rest of the country.

I would think you have a longer growing season
in IA as compared to here in MI. A lot of corn
not even in yet around here.

Ross

(quoted from post at 12:21:13 05/13/15) Its too late in the year to cancel an Ag Lease, whether written or verbal.

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Same in Illinois - without written notice of termination, the lease is likely still valid.

The guy I bought my place from was a wanna' be farmer and rented several farms in the area. When he couldn't make a go of it he stopped renting, but apparently was still claiming it for some gov. programs as if he was still operating it. Feds were after him for awhile but he never was charged with anything. Couldn't pay on his some loans secured by the home and 8 acres so he was days away from a sale on the courthouse steps, unknown to us, or we would have made a much lower offer. As it was, several folks in the area thought we bought it in bankruptcy. His sister was the realtor on the deal and constantly was apologizing for him. We got to know the folks that previously owned the place and still owned the surrounding farm land and they said he did virtually nothing to improve or maintain the place in the 12 years he owned it. He's now living in his dad's farm just down the road and breeding a few Angus cows. We have no use for him.