By Joseph Peiffer, Founding Attorney

Nearly 10 years ago, after 30 years of rural-focused practice with other firms, I founded Ag & Business Legal Strategies as a practice focused on advocating for the legal and financial interests of Iowa, Illinois, and now Missouri farmers and other small business owners facing debt restructuring or bankruptcy.

This year, in the wake of more mainstream news focus on the farm economy, we at ABLS have seen a sharp increase in our efforts to provide news media with information and analysis about farm bankruptcy, financial planning, and more. Associate Attorney Austin Peiffer and I have provided multiple interviews over the past several months both to agricultural media—geared to a farmer and agribusiness audience—and to general news media that are trying to help the non-farming public understand more about agriculture.

Here is a sampling of the 2025 news coverage featuring ABLS insights:

• A Brownfield Ag News interview in July about the September 1 deadline for 2026 Iowa farm lease termination notices

• A Southern Farm Network story in October about rising Chapter 12 farm bankruptcy filings in the first half of this year

• An NPR interview, via Iowa Public Radio, about the role tariffs and other events of recent years are playing in farmers’ financial challenges

• A late-November piece on RFD-TV about farm credit conditions, and preparing properly to apply for a 2026 operating line of credit at the bank

• A Des Moines Register article (subscription required) examining the current farm economy, trade, debt and bankruptcies, and credit availability

We have more notable interviews to come, all with an eye toward keeping the public, as well as the farming and agribusiness communities, informed of financial and related legal factors affecting agriculture’s bottom line and future plans.

If you are dealing with worry or uncertainty about debt, your financial health, or legal issues related to these, don’t wait to act—reach out for a discussion and plan of action NOW. Help yourself with the holiday gift of peace of mind!

(319) 363-1641

At Ag & Business Legal Strategies, we want our clients to be honest with themselves and have a solid business plan. Our team will help you create and execute that business plan, and, if necessary, assist you with the legal, tax, and practical aspects of debt restructuring or bankruptcy.

Don’t wait for the problems to become insurmountable. Connect with someone you can trust today, not tomorrow, when it may be too late.