Opinion ID: 1622904
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mandatory Mediation Proceedings Under Section 654B.3

Text: We now turn to section 654B.3. Bentien argues section 654B.3 applies to the present case. He alleges the small claims court did not have subject matter jurisdiction because Klinge failed to satisfy the requirements set forth in section 654B.3(1). Section 654B.3 provides: A person who is a farm resident, or other party, desiring to initiate a civil proceeding to resolve a dispute, shall file a request for mediation with the farm mediation service. The person shall not begin the proceeding until the person receives a mediation release. . . . Iowa Code § 654B.3(1)( a ) (emphasis added). Before addressing the issue of subject matter jurisdiction, we must determine whether this provision in fact applies to the present case. According to the statutory definitions, a dispute is a controversy between a person who is a farm resident and another person which . . . relates to . . . [t]he performance of either person under a care and feeding contract, if both persons are parties to the contract. Id. § 654B.1(2)( a ). A farm resident is a person holding an interest in farmland, in fee, under a real estate contract, or under a lease, if the person manages farming operations on the land. Id. § 654B.1(5). An other party is a person having a dispute with a farm resident. Id. § 654B.1(8). And finally, a care and feeding contract is an agreement, either oral or written, between a farm resident and the owner of livestock, under which the farm resident agrees to act as a feeder by promising to care for and feed the livestock on the farm resident's premises. Id. § 654B.1(1). In the present case, it is undisputed both parties are farmers and Bentien's pigs (the subject of the contract) were kept at Klinge's farm. Klinge is a farm resident and the contract at issue is a care and feeding contract. Since the parties' dispute involves a care and feeding contract, we find section 654B.1 is applicable. Thus, Klinge was required to file a mediation request and receive a mediation release before filing this suit in small claims court.