Final answer:
Any growing crops planted by the tenant at the time of the sale of a leased farm property legally belong to the tenant. This is due to the principle of emblements which protects the tenant's investment in the crops.
Step-by-step explanation:
The owner of a farm has found a buyer for the property, which is leased to a tenant farmer. At closing, any growing crops that were planted by the tenant belong to the tenant. This is rooted in the legal concept of emblements, which recognizes the tenant farmer's right to harvest the crops they planted.
Even though the land is sold, the rights to the crops stay with the tenant until they are harvested. This concept is particularly important as farming operations often require significant investment and labor before yielding a return, and without the protection of emblements, tenant farmers could suffer unfair losses.
By maintaining the rights to their crops after the sale of the land, tenant farmers are better able to manage the fundamental vulnerability of farming, which operates on a yearly cycle. It's a safeguard that recognizes the unique nature of agricultural production and the time-delayed rewards it often entails.