• USB Policy

  • USB Policies

    • Purpose
    • Scope
    • Terminology
    • Responsibility

  • Accounting

    • Financial Reporting

  • Anti-Harassment Policy

  • Bank and Investment Accounts

  • Board Budgeting and Allocation

    • Budgeting
    • Allocations
    • Projects

  • Board Director Expense Reimbursement

  • Board Records

  • Chairperson's Expense Reimbursement

  • Communications Standards

  • Compliance Officer

  • Compliance Reviews and Reporting

  • Conflict of Interest

  • Contract Authority

    • Signature Authority

  • Election of Directors, Officers and Executive Committee

    • Nomination Procedure – Officers and Executive Committee Members
    • Election Procedure – Officers and Executive Committee Members
    • Executive Committee Voting Rights
    • External Liaison

  • Family Member Compensation

  • Fund Reserve

  • Information Technology

    • Backup and Recovery
    • Acceptable Use of Computer Equipment
    • Email Communication

  • Insurance

  • Intellectual Property Rights

  • Investments

  • Minutes

  • Pecuniary Rewards

  • Primary Contractors

  • Purchase of Property/Endowments

    • Purchase of Property
    • Endowments

  • QSSB Reviews and Reporting

  • Roles and Responsibilities

  • Social Media

  • Solicitation of Funds

  • Sponsorship Policy

  • Travel Expense Reimbursements

  • Unscheduled Expenditures

  • USB Credit Cards

  • USB Liaison

  • Vendor/Contract Management and Reimbursement Policy

    • Administrative Requirements
    • Anti-Harrassment
    • Whistleblower Policy
    • Program Requirements
    • USB Travel Guidelines for Contractors

  • Appendix A – Delegation of Authority

  • Appendix B – Records Management Policy

  • Appendix C – Code of Conduct

  • Appendix D – AMS Directive 2210.2

  • Appendix E – Roles and Responsibilities

  • Appendix F – Permanent Bylaws of the United Soybean Board

  • Appendix G – Social Media Policy

  • Resources

• USB Reference Guide

  • Purpose

  • Scope

  • Terminology

  • USB Communication Standards Manual

  • Confidentiality Agreement

  • Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement

  • Contractor Agreement Template

  • Contractor Services Handbook

  • Exemption from Federal Income Tax

  • USDA Guidelines for AMS Oversight of Commodity Research and Promotion Programs

  • Long-Range Strategic Plan

• QSSB Manual

  • Purpose

  • Scope

  • Terminology

  • Responsibility

  • Election of the Board of Directors

    • Nomination Procedure – Board of Directors
    • Election Procedure – Board of Directors
    • Nominee's Agreement to Serve

  • QSSB Annual Financial Report Content Guideline

    • Annual Audit Report
    • Sample: Negative Assurances Report
    • Sample: Negative Assurances Paragraph

  • Purchase of Property/Endowments

  • QSSB Compliance

    • Annual Financial Report Guidelines

  • QSSB Compliance Requirements

    • Internal Controls
    • Collections Compliance
    • Travel Reimbursements
    • Contract Compliance
    • Program Expenditures
    • Internal Control Guidelines
    • QSSB Segregation
    • QSSB Cash Controls

  • QSSB Marketing Plans/Budgets

  • QSSB Policies and Procedures

  • QSSB Reviews and Reporting

    • General
    • Conducting Compliance Reviews
    • Reporting
    • Resolution
    • Financial Statement

  • QSSB Refund Request

  • Organic Soybean Certification Procedures

    • Organic Soybean Exemption Request Process

  • QSSB Standard Contract

  • Appendix A – QSSB Contract Guide

    • Model Research Funding Agreement
    • Research Funding Agreement Explanation
    • Model Vendor Agreement
    • Vendor Agreement Explanation

  • Appendix B – Nominations Agreement Form

    • Nomination Agreement Form

  • Appendix C – QSSB Financial Statement Audit Checklist

  • Appendix D – AMS Directive 2210.2

  • Appendix E – Purchase of Property/Endowments

    • Purchase of Property
    • Endowments

  • Appendix F – QSSB Provisions for USB Projects

    • QSSB Provisions for USB Projects

  • Appendix G – USB and QSSB Agreement Template

  • Appendix H – First Steps for QSSB/USB Board Requirements for Compliance Collections

  • Appendix I – USDA Remittance Settlement Agreement

  • Appendix J – State QSSB to QSSB Funds Transmittal Form

  • Appendix K – QSSB to USB Funds Transmittal Form

  • Appendix L – QSSB Refund Letters

    • Exhibit A – Refund Restriction Letter from the QSSB to Producer
    • Exhibit B – Cover Letter for Producer Refund Request
    • Exhibit C – Refund Letter from Producer to QSSB
    • Exhibit D – Producer Refund Procedures
    • Exhibit E – Refund Letter From QSSB to Producer

  • Appendix M – Schedule of Contracts/Grants in Process Template

  • Appendix N – Schedule of Activities Template

  • Appendix O – Sample Code of Conduct Policy

  • Appendix P – Sample Whistleblower Policy

  • Appendix Q – Sample Confidentiality Agreement

  • Appendix R – Sample Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement

QSSB Manual > Appendix P – Sample Whistleblower Policy

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Reporting Violations

The Code of Conduct addresses the QSSB’s open door policy and suggests that the Directors and staff share their questions, concerns, suggestions or complaints with someone who can address them properly.

1)   In most cases, a staff’s supervisor is in the best position to address an area of concern.

If staff are not comfortable speaking with their supervisor or are not satisfied with the supervisor’s response, they are encouraged to reach out to the Compliance Officers.

2)   Supervisors and managers are required to report suspected violations of the Code of Conduct to the QSSB’s Compliance Officer, who has specific and exclusive responsibility to investigate all reported violations. For suspected fraud, or when they are not satisfied or uncomfortable with following the QSSB’s open door policy, individuals should contact the QSSB’s Compliance Officers directly.

3)   In addition, the Compliance Officer (list title of compliance officer) is responsible for ensuring that all allegations of violations of the provisions of the Act & Order are reported to USB and the USDA Secretary.

Accounting and Auditing Matters

The Board officers shall address all reported concerns or complaints regarding corporate accounting practices, internal controls or auditing. The Board officers shall report to USB and the USDA any such complaint until the matter is resolved.

Handling of Reported Violations

The Compliance Officer will notify the sender and acknowledge receipt of the reported violation or suspected violation within five business days. All reports will be promptly investigated, and appropriate corrective action will be taken if warranted by the investigation.

Confidentiality

Violations or suspected violations may be submitted on a confidential basis by the complainant or may be submitted anonymously. The QSSB will keep a complaint confidential throughout the investigation to the extent practicable and appropriate under the circumstances.