WASHINGTON, April 11, 2007 -- Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the appointment of Curt Sindergard to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation's (FCIC) Board of Directors.

The FCIC Board of Directors is responsible for the management of the federal crop insurance program. The board's principal duties include reviewing and approving policies and plans of insurance, as well as related materials or modifications. Additionally, the board can reimburse organizations for their research, development, and maintenance costs for new products.

Mr. Sindergard, a corn and soybean farmer from Rolfe, Iowa, will serve as one of four producer representatives. Other Board members include:

• USDA's Chief Economist, Keith Collins, Chairman
• Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, Mark Keenum
• Eldon Gould, Risk Management Agency Administrator and FCIC manager , (non-voting member)

Farmer/producer representatives

• Frank Bedford Jones, Jr., Lubbock, Texas, farmer-rancher
• Timothy M. Kelleher, Yuba City, Calif., lawyer and rice producer
• Luis Monterde, Purvis, Miss., specialty-crop producer

Insurance representative

• Willard "Bill" Classen, Des Moines, Iowa

Reinsurance/regulatory representative

• James "Mike" Pickens, Little Rock, Ark.

Information regarding FCIC Board meetings and related materials may be found on the Risk Management Agency's Web site, located at: http://www.rma.usda.gov/fcic/