Form FSA-211, Power of Attorney (includes FSA-211A, Power of Attorney Signature Continuation), is the U.S. Department of Agriculture form a producer (the grantor) uses to appoint an attorney-in-fact to act for them with the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), and optionally with Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) crop insurance policies. It is not valid for FSA Farm Loan Program purposes. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the signed original then goes to the applicable USDA Service Center.
Last updated
What is FSA-211?
Form FSA-211, Power of Attorney, is the USDA form a producer (the grantor) uses to appoint an attorney-in-fact to act for them in chosen FSA, NRCS and CCC programs and transactions, and optionally in FCIC crop insurance matters.
The form is issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) and Risk Management Agency. You name the grantee, then check the programs in Section A (items 1 to 17) and the actions in Section B (items 1 to 6). For crop insurance you list the crops, state, county and years in Section C and check the actions in Section D. Checking FCIC transactions does not affect the FSA, NRCS or CCC choices.
The USDA instructions are direct about the stakes: the document gives another person legal authority to act for you, and that person may enter into binding agreements and create liability for you. The powers depend on what you grant. The power of attorney is valid in all counties in the United States unless otherwise noted.
The title also covers Form FSA-211A, Power of Attorney Signature Continuation Sheet, which is attached to FSA-211 when an entity needs more signatures than the main form has room for. Form FSA-211 is not the FSA Farm Loan Program power of attorney: the form states it is not valid for those purposes. It is collected under OMB control number 0560-0190.
Who needs to file FSA-211?
Producers who want another person or organization to act for them with FSA, NRCS or CCC programs, or with FCIC crop insurance policies, complete Form FSA-211 as the grantor.
- Individuals: the person granting the authority signs in Item 6A and dates it in Item 6B.
- Entities with an individual already authorized to act for them (such as a corporation or partnership): the authorized person signs in Item 7A, states the title or relationship in Item 7B and dates it in Item 7C.
- Entities with no such individual: for a general partnership, trust, joint venture or similar entity, all members must sign. For a corporation whose corporate documents do not allow redelegation of authority, all officers or members must sign.
If more than 2 member or officer signatures are required, check the box in Item 6C and attach Form FSA-211A. Grantors that are general partnerships, joint operations, corporations, limited liability companies or similar entities needing more than one member's signature use that sheet.
Do not use this form for FSA Farm Loan Program purposes. The grantor's signature must be witnessed by a FPAC employee or acknowledged by a Notary Public, and for NRCS Conservation Easement Programs it must be notarized.
When to file FSA-211
Complete Form FSA-211 when you want someone to act for you in the listed programs, and have it signed and delivered before that person tries to act: the power of attorney is not effective until it is properly executed and served to a USDA Service Center. The form prints no filing deadline.
Once effective, it stays in force until (1) written notice of its revocation is served on FSA, NRCS or CCC as appropriate; (2) the grantor dies; or (3) the grantor becomes incompetent or incapacitated. If crop insurance is covered, the grantor must give the applicable crop insurance agent a separate written notice of revocation. The authority is valid in all counties in the United States unless otherwise noted on the form.
Documents you need
- Form FSA-211A, Power of Attorney Signature Continuation Sheet, attached to FSA-211 and checked in Item 6C, when more than 2 member or officer signatures are required for an entity grantor.
- Notary Public acknowledgment in Item 8, unless a FPAC employee witnesses the signature in Item 9 or a corporate seal of the grantor is affixed; for NRCS Conservation Easement Programs, notarization is required.
How to fill out FSA-211
Enter the attorney-in-fact's details
In Items (1) to (4), enter the name, address, county of residence and State of residence of the person being granted authority to act on the producer's behalf.
Enter the grantor's name
In Item (5), enter the producer's name. If the grantor is an entity such as a corporation or partnership, enter the name of the entity.
Check the FSA, NRCS and CCC programs
In Section A, check the programs the appointed person may act on (A1 to A17). Check A2 for all current and all future programs, or list programs not shown in the Other (Specify) line, item 17.
Check the matching transactions
In Section B, check the actions the person may take (B1 to B6); check B1 for all actions or use the Other (Specify) line. Section A and Section B selections must both be made.
Complete crop insurance sections if needed
For FCIC policies, enter "All" or each crop, state, county and year(s) in Section C, and check the actions in Section D (D1 for all actions). Leave these blank if crop insurance is not covered.
Sign as an individual grantor
If the grantor is an individual, sign in Item 6A and enter the date in Item 6B in MM-DD-YYYY format. Check the box in Item 6C if Form FSA-211A is attached.
Sign for an entity grantor
If an individual is already authorized to act for the entity, that person signs in Item 7A, enters the title or relationship in Item 7B and the date in Item 7C. Otherwise, all required members or officers must sign.
Complete Form FSA-211A if used
On FSA-211A, enter the attorney-in-fact's name from Item (1) and the entity's name from Item (5), then each required signer signs in Items 3A to 7A with the date in MM-DD-YYYY format.
Leave witness, notary and FSA blocks alone
Items 8(a) to 8(c) are for the Notary Public. Items 9A to 9C and 10(a) to 10(e) are for FSA use only. Do not fill them in.
Review, print and sign before a witness
Check every entry, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Sign the printed original so a FPAC employee or a Notary Public can witness or acknowledge it, then submit it as described under How to submit.
How to submit FSA-211
Submit the signed original of Form FSA-211, in hard copy, to the applicable USDA Service Center. The form says to return the completed form to that office, and the FSA instructions say the original must be submitted.
- Hard copy original: attach Form FSA-211A if you checked Item 6C. Both pages must be originals.
- Fax: not accepted. The FSA instructions state that copies received through telefacsimile machines will not be accepted.
- Witness or notary: before you submit, the grantor's signature must be witnessed by a FPAC employee in Item 9 or acknowledged by a Notary Public in Item 8. Signatures that are neither witnessed by a FSA employee nor acknowledged by a valid Notary Public will not be accepted. For NRCS Conservation Easement Programs, notarization is required.
- Effective date: the Service Center records the service in Item 10, which is for FSA use only.
The form prints no mailing address, online portal or fee. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Faxing the form to the Service Center. The FSA instructions say FSA-211 and FSA-211A received by fax will not be accepted; the original must be submitted in hard copy.
- Submitting the grantor's signature without a FPAC employee witness (Item 9) or a Notary Public acknowledgment (Item 8); such signatures will not be accepted.
- Skipping notarization when the form is prepared or presented for an NRCS Conservation Easement Program, where it must be notarized.
- Checking programs in Section A without the matching actions in Section B, or the reverse. The instructions say the grantor must select both.
- Using Form FSA-211 for FSA Farm Loan Program purposes; the form states it is not valid for them.
- Having only one signer for an entity that has no individual already authorized to act for it, when all members (or, for some corporations, all officers) must sign.
- Checking Item 6C without attaching Form FSA-211A, or needing more than 2 signatures and not using the continuation sheet.
- Filling in Items 8(a) to 8(c), 9A to 9C or 10(a) to 10(e) yourself; they are for the Notary Public and FSA use only.
- Revoking the authority only with FSA, NRCS or CCC while the grantor has a crop insurance agent, who needs separate written notice of revocation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the USDA power of attorney form FSA-211 used for?
Form FSA-211 lets a producer (the grantor) appoint an attorney-in-fact to act for them in chosen FSA, NRCS and CCC programs and transactions. It can also cover FCIC crop insurance policies. It is not valid for FSA Farm Loan Program purposes.
Does Form FSA-211 have to be notarized?
The grantor's signature must be either witnessed by a FPAC employee (Item 9) or acknowledged by a Notary Public (Item 8); the form also mentions a corporate seal. Notarization is mandatory for NRCS Conservation Easement Programs. Unwitnessed or unacknowledged signatures will not be accepted.
Can I fax or email Form FSA-211 to the Service Center?
No fax. The FSA instructions say faxed copies of FSA-211 and FSA-211A will not be accepted, and the completed original must be submitted in hard copy to the appropriate FSA Service Center. The form names no email or online channel.
When is an FSA-211 power of attorney effective, and when does it end?
It is not effective until properly executed and served to a USDA Service Center. It remains in force until written notice of revocation is served on FSA, NRCS or CCC, or until the grantor dies or becomes incompetent or incapacitated.
When do I need Form FSA-211A?
Use FSA-211A when the grantor is an entity, such as a general partnership, corporation or LLC, and more than 2 member or officer signatures are required. Check the box in Item 6C of FSA-211 and attach the completed sheet to it.
Does this power of attorney cover crop insurance?
Optionally, yes. Sections C and D let the grantor name crops, states, counties and years and check crop insurance actions for FCIC policies. To revoke, the grantor must give the applicable crop insurance agent a separate written notice.
Can I use Form FSA-211 for an FSA farm loan?
No. The form states that this power of attorney is not valid for FSA Farm Loan Program purposes. It applies only to the FSA, NRCS and CCC programs and the FCIC crop insurance actions you check.
Can I fill out Form FSA-211 online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF does not file it: you still sign the original before a witness or notary and return it to the USDA Service Center.
Ready to fill out FSA-211?
Fill out FSA-211 now