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AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VILSACK ANNOUNCES NEW MEMBERS OF THE FCIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WASHINGTON, Apr 20, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today two new members of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors. The new appointees, Ellen Linderman of North Dakota and Maggie Goode of Montana, will join the FCIC Board at the Board’s next meeting in May.

“The addition of these individuals to the Board of Directors will bring additional experience and dedication that will help the Board address the risk management needs of producers around the country,“ said Vilsack.

Maggie Goode is a third generation cattle rancher from Niarada, Mont. and runs a cow/calf operation on the Flathead Indian Reservation. In addition to serving on the Farm Service Agency County Committee in Sanders County, Ms. Goode also serves on the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Agriculture Advisory Committee. She is a past recipient of the USDA Farm Service Producer of the Year and the USDA Farm Services Volunteer of the Year awards.

Ellen Linderman grows a variety of wheat, food-grade soybeans, corn, sunflowers, barley, and millet on her farm in Carrington, N.D. and has participated in the federal crop insurance program for 20 years. Ms. Linderman chaired the North Dakota Farm Service Agency State Committee for eight years and also served as a commissioner on the USDA Commission on the Application of Payment Limitations for Agriculture. She currently sits on the North Dakota Farmers Union Board of Directors, and is a director at both the North Dakota Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Company and the Farmers Union Service Association.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation promotes the economic stability of agriculture through a sound system of crop insurance and by providing the means for research and experience helpful in developing such insurance. The Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 established the FCIC Board. Management is vested in the Board of Directors subject to the general supervision of the Secretary of Agriculture. The Board is responsible for maintaining and creating new programs for risk management and risk mitigation in agriculture.