Amendments to Agricultural Tecy Act

Agricultural Year: Time needed for raising seasonal products including land preparation, sowing, harvesting, threshing.
For perennial crops (coconuts, coffee, etc.), it means from land preparation to first harvest and harvest to harvest thereafter.
Agricultural year may be shorter or longer than a calendar year.
Beginning of agricultural year: Time of first farm operation such as seed-bed preparation.
Broadcasting: Scattering seeds directly to landholding instead of transplanting.
Ratooning: Cutting straw close to ground after drainage to allow regrowth for multi-harvest crops.
Auxiliary crop: Any crop besides the principal crop cultivated annually, excluding certain lots.
Suited for mechanization means over 60% of tenant labor can be replaced by machinery, reducing production costs.

Extinguished by tenant's voluntary surrender, abandonment, death, or incapacity.
Tenant’s immediate family member within second degree of consanguinity may continue tenancy.
Landholder may cultivate land personally or by farm machinery.
Expiration of contract or sale/transfer does not automatically end tenancy; purchaser assumes tenant relations.

Tenant can switch between share tenancy and leasehold tenancy or between share arrangements.
Exercisable at least one month before next agricultural year after contract expiration (if in writing and registered).
If no registered contract, change may be made at least one month before agricultural year of change.

Tenant can prove contributions aside from labor.
Tenant entitled to a home lot for dwelling, max 3% of landholding or 1,000 sqm, located conveniently on landholder’s property.
Home lot used for dwelling, raising small livestock, vegetables, minor industries.
Tenant’s dwelling cannot be removed without severance or legal ejection.

Landholder chooses kind of crop and seeds, subject to tenant’s objection and court resolution.
Tenant cannot be ejected for crop changes.
Landholder can require tenant to follow proven farming practices and use specified fertilizers.
Disputes resolved by court for mutual interest.

Landholder cannot mortgage tenant’s share in the crop.
Mortgage of land or crop does not affect tenant’s share.
Landholder shall not discourage tenant unions but cannot initiate or interfere with their organization.

Costs evidenced by invoices/receipts, including additional weeding beyond local custom, paid from gross harvest.
Disputes over weeding costs settled by court.

If fertilizer or pest/disease control directed by landholder, cost advanced by him, deducted from produce.

Shares based on contributions: land (30%), labor (30%), implements (5%), animals (5%), final harrowing (5%), transplanting (25%).
Adjustments made if certain contributions are not applicable.

For ricelands: not more than 25% (first class land) or 20% (second class) of average gross produce after deductions.
Landholder may demand rental increase after productivity improvements with court determination.
Classification based on yield levels.
For trees and other plants: max 25% of average produce; additional considerations by negotiation.

Bona fide intention of landholder or close relative to cultivate personally or by machinery.
Notice requirements: 1-2 years prior notice to court and tenant.
Certification required that land is suited for mechanization.
Resettlement provisions for displaced tenants.
Tenant preference for labor employment in mechanized farm.
Landholder may mechanize without ejecting tenant by petition to court.
Noncompliance by share-tenant with farm practices grounds for dispossession.

Indigent tenants entitled to legal representation via tenancy mediation commission or court appointment.

Violations of specific sections penalized by fines up to P2,000 or imprisonment up to one year.
Bad faith inducement carries higher penalties.
Liability extends to responsible officials of juridical persons.