The General Assembly has found and determined and does hereby declare that: (a) a strong farm economy is essential to the overall fiscal health of the State of Illinois; (b) farmers in Illinois are currently facing an economic crisis of unprecedented proportion caused in part by high credit costs and low commodity prices; (c) there is a serious lack of farm operating credit at affordable costs to farmers in Illinois; and (d) the State of Illinois can assist in alleviating this severe credit need by granting payment adjustments to significantly reduce interest costs.