“ Using my experience as a full-time farmer and over 30 years of working with farmers, ag businesses and ag associations, I and the attorneys I work with at Brick Gentry can understand our clients’ needs and provide real-world, practical legal advice.

Eldon L. McAfee

Shareholder

Eldon McAfee was raised on a farm near Atlantic, Iowa, and continues to operate the family farm with his family in a crop-share lease. Eldon graduated from Iowa State University in Farm Operations. He farmed for ten years, dairying first near Solon, then by North English, Iowa. Utilizing his farm experience, he completed the agricultural law program at Drake University in 1991. Since becoming a lawyer, Eldon has continued to use his farm experience to focus his law practice on agricultural law and he is now recognized as one of Iowa's leading agricultural attorneys.

Direct Office: 515.271.5916
Mobile: 515.249.1706
Email: eldon.mcafee@brickgentrylaw.com

Areas of Practice

Experience

  • Full time Farmer, 1978 to 1988.
  • Attorney with Beving, Swanson & Forrest, P.C., Des Moines, Iowa, 1991 to 2015.

Honors & Recognition

  • "Excellence in Agricultural Law in Private Practice Award, American Agricultural Law Association, Oct. 26, 2018, “For outstanding contributions to the legal profession and the agricultural community”
  • 2018 Volunteer of the Year, Des Moines Neighbors 19th Annual Rodine Mickle Neighborhood Recognition Dinner, April 24, 2018, “For over 25 years of volunteerism in the Drake Neighborhood”
  • Ag Influencer, Iowa Farmer Today, Jan. 28, 2016, “Eldon McAfee Reflects on Dairy Farming Days”, Click here for the article.
  • Drake Law’s 150 in 150, “In recognition of our 150th anniversary, Drake Law celebrates individuals who have best demonstrated the values of the Law School and helped shape Drake Law into who we are today.”, 2015, Click here for the webpage.
  • Masters of the Pork Industry, National Hog Farmer, May 14, 2014, “Eldon McAfee Honors His Roots and Keeps Agriculture in the Forefront”, Click here for the article.
  • Outstanding Alumni, Drake University Agricultural Law Center, 30 Years of the Ag Law Center, April 19, 2013
  • Honorary Master Pork Producer, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Pork Congress, Jan. 28, 2009
  • Friends of the Agricultural Law Center Award, Drake University Agricultural Law Center, Nov. 8, 1996
  • Order of the Coif, Drake University Law School, 1991
  • President’s Workhorse Award, Drake Student Agricultural Law Association, Nov. 9, 1989

Presentations and Publications

2025 Presentations

  • "Coffee Chat with Eldon - DNR Rules, Court Cases, And Other Manure Matters", with Ben Nuelle, Iowa Pork Producers Association Policy Director, Iowa Pork Congress, Jan. 22, Topics covered included: DNR issue update including New DNR Rules, DNR Rule Enforcement, Ag Nuisance, Federal EPA Air Emissions. Click here for the presentation.

2024 Presentations

  • "Agricultural Law Update", Annual Drake General Practice Review, December 13. Topics covered were:
    • Iowa & Federal Agricultural Law Update
    • State Law Animal Housing Legislation & Litigation
    • Ag Fraud & Trespass Update
    • Ag Nuisance Update
    • Iowa Statutory Ag Liens
    • Alternate Energy Easement Agreements (Wind, Solar & Carbon Pipeline)
    • Corporate Farming Law and Non-Resident Alien Ownership of Ag Land
    • Farm Tenancies
    • Fence Law
    • Tiling & Drainage
    • Agreements for Construction of Livestock Operations, Including Manure Agreements Terms and Litigation
  • "Coffee Chat with Eldon - DNR Rules, Court Cases, And Other Manure Matters", with Ben Nuelle, Iowa Pork Producers Association Policy Director, Iowa Pork Congress, Jan. 24, Topics covered included: Ag Nuisance, Ag Fraud & Trespass Laws, DNR issue update including Proposed DNR Rules, MMP Update , Federal EPA Air Emissions & NRCS 590 Std, and California Proposition 12 & Mass. Q3.

2024 Authored Articles

  • “Revised DNR Animal Feeding Operation Rules Go Into Effect”, with Julie Vyskocil and Keegan Cassady, Iowa Pork Producer magazine, July 2024 Click here for the article
     
  • “8th Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Iowa’s Ag Trespass and Surveillance Laws Focusing on Property Rights”, with Julie Vyskocil and Keegan Cassady, Iowa Pork Producer magazine, March 2024 Click here for the article

 

2023 Presentations

  • "Agricultural Law Update", Annual Drake General Practice Review, December 8. Topics covered were:
    • Iowa & Federal Agricultural Law Update
    • State Law Animal Housing Legislation & Litigation
    • Ag Fraud & Trespass Update
    • Ag Nuisance Update
    • Iowa Statutory Ag Liens
    • Alternate Energy Easement Agreements (Wind, Solar & Carbon Pipeline)
    • Corporate Farming Law and Non-Resident Alien Ownership of Ag Land
    • Farm Leases
    • Fence Law
    • Tiling & Drainage
    • Manure Agreements
       
  • “Current & Emerging Legal Issues in Ag Land Ownership”, Land Law Update, Realtors Land Institute – RLI Iowa Chapter, Oct. 5. Topics covered included:
    • Farm Tenancies
    • Iowa Statutory Landlord Liens
    • Fence Law & Trespassing and Stray
    • Tiling and Drainage
    • Agreements for Construction of Livestock Operations
    • Partition of Ag Land
    • Alternative Energy Easement Agreements
    • Corporate Farming Law and Non-Resident Alien Ownership of Ag Land
    • USDA Wetlands Conservation Compliance Appeals
  • “Chapter 200A Policy & Environmental Issues Update”, North Central Poultry Assoc. Fall Festival, Sep. 21.
     
  • "Proposition 12 & Other Livestock Law Updates", 2023 Agricultural Law Seminar, Center for Ag Law and Taxation, Iowa State University, September 19. Topics covered included:
    • State Law Animal Housing Legislation & Litigation
       
    • Ag Nuisance Legislation & Litigation
       
    • Ag Fraud & Trespass Legislation & Litigation
       
    • County Regulation of Agriculture
       
    • Fence Law
       
    • Wind & Solar Energy
       
    • Manure Agreements
       
    • Livestock Contract Feeding – Insurance
       
  • “Proposition 12, What’s Next”, Iowa AgSTATE, Sep. 11.
  • “California Proposition 12 & Mass. Question 3”, Agribusiness Assoc. of Iowa, June 21 & July 12.
     
  • “Iowa Fence Law”, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Feb. 27
     
  • “Agricultural Law – AgEd 451”, Iowa State University, Feb. 6. Topics covered included:
     
    • Ag Nuisance
       
    • Production Contracts
       
    • Contract Feeder Liens, Insurance & Packers & Stockyards Compliance
  • “Ag Related Law – Care, Custody, and Control”, Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa, Rural Agents Conference, Jan. 26.
  • "Coffee Chat with Eldon - A Nuisance Case (& Other) Discussion", with Ben Nuelle, Iowa Pork Producers Association Policy Director, Iowa Pork Congress, Jan. 25, Topics covered included: Ag Nuisance, Ag Fraud & Trespass Laws, California Proposition 12 & Mass. Q3, Manure Easements, DNR issue update including Proposed DNR Rules and MMP Update Due Dates. Additional topics in the slide presentation are DNR rules on Animal Capacity, and Common Ownership & Management. Click here for the Presentation.

2022 Presentations

  • "Agricultural Law Update", 45th Annual Drake General Practice Review, December 9. Topics covered were:
    • State Law Animal Housing Legislation & Litigation
    • Ag Fraud & Trespass Update
    • Iowa Agricultural Law Update
    • Federal Agricultural Law Update
    • Iowa Statutory Ag Liens
    • Alternate Energy Easement Agreements (Wind, Solar & Carbon Pipeline)
    • Corporate Farming Law and Non-Resident Alien Ownership of Ag Land
  • "Current Legal Issues Impacting Livestock Producers", 2022 Agricultural Law Seminar, Center for Ag Law and Taxation, Iowa State University, September 21. Topics covered were:
    • Ag Nuisance Legislation & Litigation
    • Ag Fraud & Trespass Legislation & Litigation
    • State Law Animal Housing Legislation & Litigation
    • Iowa Department of Ag & DNR Rulemakings
  • "Livestock Feeding Contracts: Practice Legal Advice - Starting with 'Read it'"; Farm Transitions: Entering Expanding, or Exiting the Business Seminar, Beginning Farmer Center, Feb. 10. Topics covered were:
    • Contracting Basics
    • Feeding Contracts General
    • Swine & Poultry Feeding Contracts
    • Cattle Feeding Contracts
    • Contract Feeding Lien
    • Contract Feeding Insurance
    • Federal Swine & Poultry Contract Regs
    • Building& Feedlot Leases
    • Manure Easements/Agreements

2022 Authored Articles

  • "Agriculture Fraud and Trespass Legislative and Litigation Update", Agricultural Law Update Fall 2022, Animal Production Issues, American Agricultural Law Association.
  • “Steering Clear of Ag Nuisance Lawsuits”, with Julie Vyskocil, Iowa Pork Producer magazine, Nov.2022, Click here for the article
  • “Iowa Supreme Court Decision is an Incentive to Continue Good Management Practices”, with Julie Vyskocil, Iowa Pork Producer magazine, Sep. 2022 Click here for the article
     

 

Education

  • Iowa State University, A.S., Technical Agriculture, 1975; B.S., Farm Operations, 1977
  • Drake University Law School, J.D., with honors, 1991

Bar Admissions

Iowa

Memberships

  • American Agricultural Law Association
    • Member of Board of Directors, 2005 to 2008
  • Polk County Bar Association
  • Iowa State Bar Association
    • Agricultural Law Section
      • Chair 1996-97 and 2004-05
      • Legislative Committee Chair 2007 and 2008

Court Admissions

  • Iowa Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa
  • Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • United States Supreme Court

Community Activities

  • Drake Neighborhood Association
    • Member of Board of Directors, 1993 to 2003 and 2006 to 2021
    • President, 1999-2000, Treasurer, 2001-2003
  • Neighborhood Development Corporation
    • Member of Board of Directors, 2007 to 2010