Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 654B.8 (2026)

Mediation release

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. If an agreement is reached between all parties, the mediator shall draft a written mediation agreement, have it signed by the parties, and submit the agreement to the farm mediation service.

2. a. The mediator shall issue a mediation release unless the other party desiring to initiate a civil proceeding to resolve the dispute fails to personally attend and participate in all mediation meetings. The mediator shall issue a mediation release if the farm resident waives or fails to personally attend and participate in all mediation meetings, regardless of participation by the other party. However, if the other party or the farm resident is not a \n Tue Dec 09 21:58:05 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 654B (17, 0) 3 FARM MEDIATION — CARE AND FEEDING CONTRACTS — NUISANCES, §654B.12\n\nnatural person, the other party or farm resident must be represented by a natural person who is an officer, director, employee, or partner of the other party or farm resident. If a person acts in a fiduciary capacity for the other party or farm resident, the fiduciary may represent the other party or farm resident. If the other party or farm resident or eligible representative is not able to attend and participate as required in this paragraph due to physical infirmity, mental infirmity, or other exigent circumstances determined reasonable by the farm mediation service, the other party or farm resident must be represented by another natural person. Any representative of the other party or the farm resident must be authorized to sign instruments provided by this chapter, including a mediation agreement or a statement prepared by the mediator that mediation was waived. This section does not require a party to reach an agreement. This section does not require a person to change a position, alter an activity which is a subject of the dispute, or restructure a contract in order to receive a mediation release.

b. The mediator shall promptly notify a party by certified mail of a denial to issue a mediation release and the reasons for the denial. The notice shall state that the party has seven days from the date that the notice is delivered to appeal the mediator’s decision, pursuant to procedures adopted by the service. After a final decision by the farm mediation service, the party may seek an action for judicial review pursuant to section 654B.10.

3. The parties to the mediation agreement may enforce the mediation agreement as a legal contract. The agreement constitutes a mediation release.

4. If the parties waive mediation, or if a mediation agreement is not reached, the parties may sign a statement prepared by the mediator that mediation was waived or that the parties did not reach an agreement. If any party does not sign the statement, the mediator shall sign the statement. The statement constitutes a mediation release. 90 Acts, ch 1143, §22; 90 Acts, ch 1199, §10; 98 Acts, ch 1122, §3 Referred to in §654B.1, 657.10 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2 cases, 1996–1999 · leading case: Arends v. Iowa Select Farms, L.P., 556 N.W.2d 812 (Iowa 1996).

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Arends v. Iowa Select Farms, L.P., 556 N.W.2d 812 (Iowa 1996). · cites it 18× “The twenty-one plaintiffs-appellants challenge a trial court ruling that dismissed them from the suit for failing to secure the mandatory mediation release required by Iowa Code section 654B.8 (1995). We reverse and remand.”

Rutter v. Carroll's Foods of the Midwest, Inc., 50 F. Supp. 2d 876 (N.D. Iowa 1999). · cites it 4× “654B: Notwithstanding this chapter, a person, required under chapter 654B to participate in mediation, shall not begin a proceeding subject to this chapter until the person receives a mediation release under section 654B.8, or until the court determines after notice and hearing…”

— Iowa Code § 654B.8(2) — 1 case

Arends v. Iowa Select Farms, L.P., 556 N.W.2d 812 (Iowa 1996). “The twenty-one plaintiffs-appellants challenge a trial court ruling that dismissed them from the suit for failing to secure the mandatory mediation release required by Iowa Code section 654B.8 (1995). We reverse and remand.”

— Iowa Code § 654B.8(2)(a) — 2 cases

Rutter v. Carroll's Foods of the Midwest, Inc., 50 F. Supp. 2d 876 (N.D. Iowa 1999). “654B: Notwithstanding this chapter, a person, required under chapter 654B to participate in mediation, shall not begin a proceeding subject to this chapter until the person receives a mediation release under section 654B.8, or until the court determines after notice and hearing…”

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