Is an electronic signature legally valid?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act and UETA when intent and consent are present and a retrievable record exists.

When is notarization required?

Notarization is typically required for deeds and certain filings; contracts rarely need a notary unless a jurisdiction or lender requires it for recording or evidentiary purposes.

Can I use remote online notarization?

Remote online notarization is allowed in many states subject to identity proofing and audio‑video recording rules; confirm your state notary laws before relying on RON.

What if parties have different legal names?

Ensure legal names match title or formation documents; mismatched names may delay recording, payments, or insurance claims and should be corrected before signing.

How should signed records be stored?

Store signed PDFs with metadata and an audit trail in encrypted cloud storage and retain originals per retention policy to support audits and dispute resolution.

How do I update or amend the agreement?

Use a written amendment signed by all parties or execute a replacement agreement. Record effective dates and preserve prior versions in the document history.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Farm Management Document

Farm Management Document

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

FARM MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

Parties and Contact Information

Client Name

Client Entity Type

Individual Corporation LLC Partnership

Client Address

Client Phone

Client Email

Manager Name

Manager Entity Type

Individual Corporation LLC Partnership

Manager Address

Manager Phone

Manager Email

Recitals

WHEREAS, Client is the owner or lessee of certain agricultural property described as: (the "Property"); and

WHEREAS, Manager has experience and expertise in the management and operation of agricultural enterprises and is willing to provide farm management services on the terms set forth in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth their respective rights and obligations with respect to the management of the Property effective as of .

Scope of Work

Manager shall provide the following farm management services with professional skill and diligence. The services shall include, at a minimum, operational planning, crop and livestock program oversight, labor management, procurement and management of inputs, recordkeeping, regulatory compliance, budget oversight and periodic reporting to Client.

Detailed Scope

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Manager a management fee in accordance with this section. All amounts are payable in United States dollars unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Management Fee (per period)

Payment Frequency

Payment Schedule and Additional Compensation

Late payments shall bear interest at the lesser of or the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. Manager may suspend services for payments more than days past due after providing written notice and an opportunity to cure.

Term and Termination

This Agreement shall commence on and shall continue until unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement or renewed in writing by the parties.

Either party may terminate this Agreement without cause upon prior written notice to the other party. In the event of termination for cause, the non-breaching party may terminate immediately upon written notice if the breaching party fails to cure a material breach within days after receipt of written notice specifying the breach.

Upon termination, Manager shall deliver to Client all records and documents relating to the Property and Manager's performance, and Client shall pay Manager for services performed and expenses incurred through the termination date.

Confidentiality

"Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed by one party to the other that is designated as confidential or that reasonably should be understood to be confidential given the nature of the information. Manager and Client each agree to protect Confidential Information from unauthorized use and disclosure using at least the same degree of care as used to protect their own confidential information, and in no event less than reasonable care.

Confidential Information shall not include information that (a) is or becomes publicly available without breach of this Agreement, (b) is known to the receiving party at the time of disclosure, or (c) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of Confidential Information. Required disclosures pursuant to lawful order or regulation are permitted so long as the disclosing party is promptly notified and provided an opportunity to seek protective relief.

Insurance and Indemnification

Manager shall maintain general liability and farm operations insurance with limits customary for the industry and shall provide proof of insurance upon Client's request. Manager shall be responsible for claims arising from Manager's negligence or willful misconduct, and shall indemnify, defend and hold Client harmless from liabilities, claims, damages and expenses resulting from Manager's performance of services, except to the extent caused by Client's negligence or willful misconduct.

Required Insurance Coverage

Proof of Insurance Due

Compliance with Laws

Manager shall perform all services in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and permits, including environmental and labor laws. Manager shall obtain and maintain all permits or licenses necessary for performance of the services and shall promptly notify Client of any violation, citation, or enforcement action affecting the Property or operations.

Notices

All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by hand, overnight courier, or certified mail to the addresses set forth below or as otherwise designated in writing by either party.

Notice Address for Client Notice Address for Manager

Governing Law; Entire Agreement

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to its conflict of law principles.

This Agreement, together with any exhibits or schedules expressly incorporated herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter, and supersedes all prior discussions, negotiations and agreements. Any amendment must be in writing and signed by both parties.

Miscellaneous Provisions

If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Neither party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other, except that Client may assign to a successor owner of the Property.

The parties acknowledge that Manager is an independent contractor and not an employee of Client. Manager shall be responsible for all employment and payroll obligations for any personnel engaged by Manager.

Client:

By:

Date:

Manager:

By:

Date:

What a Farm Management Document Is and when it's used

A Farm Management Document formally records the terms, responsibilities, and expectations between a landowner and a manager or operator who will run agricultural operations. It typically defines scope of services, property boundaries and parcels, financial terms such as fees or revenue sharing, insurance and compliance obligations, access and equipment use, and reporting requirements. The document can appear as a management agreement, lease with management clauses, or operational plan attached to permits and is used to assign day-to-day authority while preserving legal rights for both parties.

Why a clear Farm Management Document matters

A well-drafted Farm Management Document reduces disputes, clarifies liability, and supports regulatory and tax compliance by documenting responsibilities, payment terms, and required inspections. It provides evidence for lenders, insurers, and agencies when ownership or operational control is separated.

Who typically prepares and relies on this document

Common participants include property owners, professional farm managers, contracted operators, lenders, insurers, and regulatory bodies.

Farm owners and landlords managing long‑term or seasonal operations and delegating daily oversight.
Professional farm managers or operators who accept operational control and reporting duties.
Lenders, insurers, and government agencies that need documented operational authority and compliance evidence.

Each stakeholder uses the document differently: owners for control, managers for authority, and third parties for risk and compliance verification.

Typical signatories and their roles

Farm Owner

A landowner or entity that retains title and assigns management rights; responsible for approving major capital expenditures and maintaining insurance specified in the agreement. The owner retains ultimate control unless expressly conceded in the document.

Farm Manager

An individual or company contracted to run day‑to‑day operations, hire staff, and make agronomic decisions within the authority granted. The manager must meet reporting, recordkeeping, and insurance obligations defined in the agreement.

Core elements every professional Farm Management Document should include

Include specific, actionable provisions so responsibilities and remedies are clear. Below are the six critical sections to cover in the agreement.

Parties

Full legal names and entity types for owner and manager, contact details, and representative authority to sign on behalf of each party.

Scope

Detailed description of the services, acreage or parcel identifiers, permitted activities, crop types, livestock limits, and boundaries or maps as exhibits.

Term and Renewal

Start and end dates, renewal mechanics, notice periods for nonrenewal, and conditions that trigger earlier termination.

Compensation

Payment method and schedule, fee structure (fixed, percentage of revenue, or cost‑plus), reimbursement rules, and billing procedures.

Insurance and Indemnity

Required insurance types and limits, indemnity allocation, who lists the other as additional insured, and consequences for lapses.

Reporting and Compliance

Recordkeeping obligations, frequency and format of reports, pesticide or fertilizer application logs, and compliance with permits and environmental laws.

Step-by-step: completing a Farm Management Document

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, review, and execute the agreement to reduce errors and speed processing.

01

Draft: Populate parties, scope, compensation, and insurance sections with accurate data.
02

Review: Have legal, tax, and insurance advisors confirm key clauses and compliance.
03

Sign: Execute via in‑person or compliant electronic signature with proper authentication.
04

Distribute: Provide signed copies to owner, manager, insurer, lender, and retained records.

Configuring an online workflow for the document

Set these fields when building a digital template to ensure consistent collection and secure routing.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Email link or SMS code for signer identity confirmation
Template	Lock static clauses and expose only editable fields for signatures
Conditional Fields	Show insurance or exhibit sections only when applicable
Bulk Send	Enable for standardized renewals or multiple property agreements

Digital delivery options and file formats

Choose platforms and formats that preserve the document structure and audit trail.

Supported Formats: PDF, DOCX, and printable image formats
Integrations: Connectors for CRM, cloud storage, and ERP systems
Security Layers: TLS and at‑rest encryption options

Use a solution that retains an audit trail, supports conditional fields, and exports signed PDFs with metadata.

Where to send signed documents and common submission paths

After execution, route copies to the parties and any external stakeholders who rely on the document for risk, finance, or regulatory purposes.

Owner: Keep a signed original and archive a certified copy
Manager: Retain an operational copy and required exhibits
Lender / Insurer: Provide proof of authority and insurance endorsements
Regulators: Submit permits, manifests, or reports as required

Key timing items and statutory deadlines to observe

Track execution and reporting dates to preserve rights and meet tax and regulatory obligations.

Provide W-9 on request:

W-9 is furnished to payers when requested; no fixed federal deadline

1099-NEC filing deadline:

Issue to recipients and IRS by Jan 31 each year

Annual agreement review:

Conduct at least once every 12 months or as contract specifies

RON recording retention:

Retain audio/video notarization records for 5–10 years as required

Record retention start:

Retention counts from effective date or last entry in the record

Milestones from negotiation to recorded record

A simple milestone sequence helps stakeholders track progress and responsibilities during onboarding and after execution.

01

Drafting Complete

All essential terms and exhibits collected and inserted

02

Legal Review

Counsel confirms compliance and identifies risks

03

Execution

Agreement signed by authorized representatives and witnessed or notarized if required

04

Distribution and Filing

Signed copies delivered and any necessary recordings or notices completed

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the document

Using informal or inconsistent party names that cause payment or title disputes
Omitting precise property identifiers or maps leading to boundary ambiguity
Failing to require proof of insurance or listing the other party as additional insured
Missing signature dates or relying on initials where full execution is required

Principal risks and consequences of an incorrect document

Unenforceable Terms: May invalidate obligations

Tax Exposure: Incorrect reporting triggers penalties

Lien Claims: Unaddressed contractor claims risk property encumbrance

Insurance Denial: Coverage may be refused for noncompliance

Permit Violations: Operational permits could be revoked

Dispute Costs: Litigation or arbitration expenses increase

Practical tips for accurate and efficient completion

Apply these practices to reduce errors, speed approvals, and make the record defensible in audits or disputes.

Use exact legal names

Verify owner and manager names against title documents and formation filings to avoid mismatches that can delay payments and recording.

Attach exhibits

Include maps, parcel IDs, equipment lists, and insurance certificates as exhibits to prevent ambiguity during operations and inspections.

Define limits

Specify decision thresholds for capital expenditures and operational changes to reduce conflict over discretionary authority.

Preserve audit trail

Retain signed PDFs, email confirmations, and version history to demonstrate intent and execution if a dispute arises.

Real-world examples of Farm Management Documents in use

Case examples illustrate how different parties rely on the document to operate, comply, and resolve disputes.

Optica Ventures example

A small landowner outsourced crop management to a regional operator with a clear scope and revenue share.

The agreement specified maps and reporting.
The documented reports and audit trail helped reconcile seasonal payments and avoided a title dispute when lease boundaries were questioned by a neighbor.

Martin Properties example

A multi‑property owner engaged a manager for harvest and labor oversight with insurance conditions.

The manager carried commercial liability.
When a storm damaged equipment, the firm provided insurer documentation and the agreement’s indemnity clause clarified repair and replacement responsibilities.

eSignature vendor comparison for executing Farm Management Documents

Basic pricing and feature availability across common eSignature vendors. signNow is listed first per comparison conventions.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	Yes, 7-day trial	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Frequently asked questions about signing and using this document

Answers to common questions about legal validity, signatures, notaries, and recordkeeping for Farm Management Documents.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature legally valid?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act and UETA when intent and consent are present and a retrievable record exists.
When is notarization required?
Notarization is typically required for deeds and certain filings; contracts rarely need a notary unless a jurisdiction or lender requires it for recording or evidentiary purposes.
Can I use remote online notarization?
Remote online notarization is allowed in many states subject to identity proofing and audio‑video recording rules; confirm your state notary laws before relying on RON.
What if parties have different legal names?
Ensure legal names match title or formation documents; mismatched names may delay recording, payments, or insurance claims and should be corrected before signing.
How should signed records be stored?
Store signed PDFs with metadata and an audit trail in encrypted cloud storage and retain originals per retention policy to support audits and dispute resolution.
How do I update or amend the agreement?
Use a written amendment signed by all parties or execute a replacement agreement. Record effective dates and preserve prior versions in the document history.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now