The Illinois Farm Service Agency (FSA) is a relatively new agency with deep roots. It combines the old Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) agency and the farm loan section of the old Farmers Home Administration (FHA). FSA is part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Many employees of FSA and a vast majority of the people the agency serves are also members of Illinois electric cooperatives.

I was appointed executive director of the FSA by President George Bush, Jr., and began my official duties on March 5, 2001. In the short time since I accepted the position, I've learned that the more than 616 FSA employees, much like their rural electric cooperative counterparts, take very seriously their role in improving the lives of rural Illinois farm families.

I'm often asked when a new farm bill will be passed in Washington D.C., and although I can't answer that, I know the Illinois FSA stands ready to administer it whenever that time comes. The Illinois agency is one of the busiest in the nation, and its many dedicated employees are here to help Illinois farmers survive when the going gets tough.

Some people think farmers receive excessive funding from the government. However, it is important to remember that farmers are the economic engines that fuel many rural areas of Illinois. Many rural school districts receive up to 90 percent of their property tax revenues from farmland. Many farmers and their charitable contributions keep rural churches and other local organizations alive.

In Illinois, including Chicago and other urban areas, 8.5 percent of jobs are in agriculture production and 25 percent are in agribusiness. And farmers put the money they receive back into their communities.

Many dedicated employees are here to help Illinois farmers survive when the going gets tough.

Rural residents, especially farmers, are wondering where the Bush administration stands on farm programs. President Bush is well aware of the importance of such programs and strongly favors a long-term sustainable solution. The president has already denied California a waiver on the clean air regulations, boosting the ethanol industry in Illinois. Many Illinois fanners are considering or already have invested in farmer-owned cooperative ethanol plants. The Bush administration is also very serious about expanding the trade and market for our farm products to other countries.

The FSA also administers other important programs. Our agency loans money out to farmers who are just getting established, and it guarantees loans that help farmers and their bankers access credit for their operations. There are 93 statewide FSA offices in the state and the county executive director for each office acts as a local chairman for the Federal Emergency Management Board (FEMB). Those executive directors are responsible for submitting reports to the governor and the secretary of the Department of Agriculture, who will in turn ask President Bush to declare certain areas federal disaster areas.

In the event of an emergency, the Illinois FSA has an inventory of all food and seed stored in the state, so it can be quickly disbursed to those in need. Each FSA office also conducts crop insurance inspections for compliance of its rules. Crop insurance is administered by the Risk Management Agency, which is part of the USDA.

Approximately one third of the farm program payments the FSA administers in Illinois are for conservation. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQUIP) are some examples of how FSA helps Illinois farmers conserve soil, improve wildlife habitat and protect our state's water supply. Illinois has the most successful CREP program in the nation. There are 132,000 acres enrolled in projects in the Illinois river watershed that improve the quality of water.

Illinois farmers know the importance of the FSA. We, like electric cooperatives, provide a vital service for rural Illinois.

William Graff is the Illinois State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency. Graff, from Middletown, has been a farm owner and operator since 1978 and has been a member of Menard Electric Cooperative since 1983. He has served on many agriculture related boards and committees including service as president of the Logan County Farm Bureau and a member of the Illinois State Fair Board. The opinions and views of guest commentators are their own and may not represent those of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives or the electric co-ops of Illinois.

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