Eastern Iowa Farmer Fall 2020

By KRIS KOTH
Clinton County Executive Director
Cedar County Acting Executive Director
Farm Service Agency
kris.koth@usda.gov
EASTERN IOWA FARMER
The past four months have changed
the way most business is conducted;
the Farm Service Agency is
adapting and changing as well. Did
you know with an email along with
a text message most FSA forms can be signed
electronically then sent back to FSA instantly?
This is one of the changes that has come about
during the past four months. Now, we all know
change and technology can be difficult, but
what if change and technology can save you
time or avoid a trip to town?
FSA has expanded our digital customer
service by acquiring licenses to Box.com and
OneSpan to assist county offices with ways to
communicate documents containing personally
identifiable information (PII) with producers.
This software allows an employee to upload,
edit, share, or download documents. Sharing
a document sends a link via email (i.e. to a
producer). If the producer or other person
receiving the sharing link does not have a
Box account, they can sign up for a personal
Box account at Box.com/pricing/individual to
access the shared link.
With the personal account, a producer may
upload or download a document. This includes
the ability to print a document, sign it, then
scan and upload the signed document. The
addition of OneSpan allows an employee to
add a required producer signature field on a
document, send it to the producer for signature
using their smart phone or computer, then you
return the document for download and filing
FSA technology
saves time,
helps people
avoid trip to town
using Box + OneSpan secure file sharing. This
will make getting signed documents extremely
simple for both the office staff and the customer
while reducing the need to follow up on
required documentation.
We know that this technology isn’t going to
be for everyone, but we want you to know you
can utilize it if you are interested. An important
step for this process to work is to make sure
your local FSA office has your current email
address along with mobile phone number.
These two forms of contact information are
needed when sending files using the Box and
OneSpan software for you to digitally sign.
How does the process work? Your local
FSA office will create a folder inside the Box
software where they will upload a document
for you to sign and generate an email from
OneSpan to you. The email contains a link you
will click to open the document to review and
sign. A passcode is sent by text message to
your mobile phone number for a second level
authentication.
After you have reviewed the document you
can click the “Tap to Sign” signature Box. At
this point your digital signature is added, then
you are finished. You will get another email
confirming that you signed the document along
with the option to download it for your records.
FSA is automatically notified the document
is signed. Within minutes you can have your
document signed and returned to FSA.
We would encourage everyone to at least
make sure their email address as well as cell
phone number is updated with the FSA office.
As we said before, this technology might not be
for everyone, but maybe it’s for you. Next time
you are doing business with FSA, ask about
Box and OneSpan to sign your paperwork
digitally. n
If you have
any questions,
please contact
your local
FSA Office.
Cedar County
205 W. South St.,
Ste. 3, Tipton, IA
52772
(563) 886-6061
Clinton County
1212 17th Ave.,
DeWitt, IA 52742
(563) 659-3456
Dubuque County
210 Bierman
Road, Epworth, IA
52045
(563) 876-3328
Jackson County
601 E. Platt St.,
Maquoketa, IA
52060
(563) 652-3237
Jones County
300 Chamber Dr.,
Anamosa, IA
52205
(563) 462-3517
114 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2020 eifarmer.com