Opinion ID: 2052512
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: harvey and edith johnson

Text: Harvey Johnson purchased the South Half of Section 2 from his uncle, Reynold Johnson, in 1973. The land has been in the family since about 1886. Harvey also testified that when he first worked the land in the 1940s, Mr. Jorgenson, then owner of the North Half of Section 2, ran a fence along where the current crop line lies. There is no evidence that anything was done by the then-owners of the South Half of Section 2 to protect their property interest. Jensen testified that he took the fence out approximately 15 years ago, but a few fenceposts remain along the crop line. Harvey testified that he was aware of the crop line and that he tried to follow it when working his field. There was also testimony by Harvey that it was his understanding that if he had the property surveyed, Jensen would abide by the survey as to the boundary line. Jensen had no recollection of such an agreement. However, considering this evidence, and the broad discretion the trial court has in weighing such evidence, the decision of the trial court in finding that the Johnsons did acquiesce in the crop line as the boundary was not clearly erroneous. Contrary to the characterization in the special concurrence, the evidence in this case, including the photographs, indicates the crop lines are more than sifting sands. Rather, they are marked in part by a drainage ditch, fence posts, a visible fence line, as well as a dead furrow. Furthermore, the evidence indicates that despite the large machinery used in farming the lines varied only 4 to 6 inches from year to year. We do not purport herein to decide cases involving crop lines that are not so clearly demarcated or in which the actual crop line shifts perceptibly from year to year or to cases in which a matter of inches is crucial. The judgment is affirmed. LEVINE, MESCHKE and GIERKE, JJ., concur. ERICKSTAD, C.J., specially concurs.