?On the dotted line?: FSA signature requirements not as simple as they seem

In simpler times, when a producer visited the county Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office to sign a form there was no questions about how to sign. The producer simply signed his or her name of the dotted line.

?In today?s world of entities ? trusts, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, cooperatives, partnerships and corporations ? signing FSA and Commodity Credit Corporation documents and forms isn?t so simple,? said Vickie Bouldin, Chairperson of the Warren County FSA Committee.

?First, you have to have a document on file at the county office saying you?re authorized to sign for the entity. It could be a copy of the articles of partnership or articles of incorporation or a valid power of attorney. Second, you have to know how you?re supposed to sign. In almost all instances, when you?re signing for an entity, your signature has to include ?by? or ?for,? indicating you?re signing in a representative capacity. For example, say you have a partnership, the John R. Smith & Sons Partnership, and you?re authorized to sign for the partnership. Acceptable signatures would include ?by George C. Smith;? ?by George C. Smith, Partner;? and ?John R. Smith & Sons Partnership, by George C. Smith, Partner.??

Remember, if you?ve established an entity for your operation, you can no longer sign forms and contracts as yourself. When you have signing authority for an entity, you have to sign forms on behalf of the entity, not yourself. Bouldin says that producers who have questions about the proper way to sign forms and contracts for an entity should contact the Warren County office staff.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis or face, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual?s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA?s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice or TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 7953272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.