Section 950.40  Definitions

 

Except as stated in this Section, or unless a different meaning of a word or term is clear from the context, the definition of words or terms in this Part shall be the same as that applied to the same word or terms in the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.  For the purposes of this Part, the terms included in this Section shall have the following meanings:

 

            "Act" means the Illinois AgriFIRST Program Act of 2001 [505 ILCS 19].

 

            "Agreement" means a written document executed between the grantee and the Department setting forth the terms of the grant.

 

            "Agribusiness" means any sole proprietorship, limited partnership, co-partnership, joint venture, corporation, or cooperative that operates or will operate a facility or agricultural process located within the State of Illinois that is related to the processing of agricultural commodities (including, but not limited to, the products of aquaculture, hydroponics, and silviculture) or the manufacturing, production, or construction of agricultural buildings, structures, equipment, implements, and supplies, or any other facilities or processes used in agricultural production.  "Agribusiness" includes but is not limited to the following:

 

1)         grain handling and processing, including grain storage, drying, treatment, conditioning, milling, and packaging;

 

2)         seed and feed grain development and processing;

 

3)         fruit and vegetable processing, including preparation, canning, and packaging;

 

4)         processing of livestock and livestock products, dairy products, poultry and poultry products, fish or apiarian products, including slaughter, shearing, collecting, preparation, canning, and packaging;

 

5)         fertilizer and agricultural chemical manufacturing, processing, application and supplying;

 

6)         farm machinery, equipment, and implement manufacturing and supplying;

 

7)         manufacturing and supplying of agricultural commodity processing machinery and equipment, including machinery and equipment used in slaughter, treatment, handling, collecting, preparation, canning, or packaging of agricultural commodities;

 

8)         farm building and farm structure manufacturing, construction, and supplying;

 

9)         construction, manufacturing, implementation, supplying, or servicing of irrigation, drainage, and soil and water conservation devices or equipment;

 

10)         fuel processing and development facilities that produce fuel from agricultural commodities or by-products;

 

11)         facilities and equipment for processing and packaging agricultural commodities specifically for export;

 

12)         facilities and equipment for forestry product processing and supplying, including sawmilling operations, wood chip operations, timber harvesting operations, and manufacturing of prefabricated buildings, paper, furniture, or other goods from forestry products; and

 

13)         facilities and equipment for research and development of products, processes, and equipment for the production, processing, preparation, or packaging of agricultural commodities and by-products.  [505 ILCS 19/5]

 

            "Agricultural commodities" means Illinois crops of fiber, food, oilseeds, seeds, fruit, vegetables, horticulture, grain, and their products or by-products and products of aquaculture, horticulture, hydroponics, silviculture, livestock, dairy, poultry, bees, ratites and any other products or by-products.

 

            "Agricultural facility" means land, any building or other improvement on or to land, and any personal properties deemed necessary or suitable for use, whether or not now in existence, in farming, ranching, the production of agricultural commodities (including, but not limited to, the products of aquaculture, hydroponics, and silviculture) or the treating, processing, or storing of agricultural commodities. [505 ILCS 19/5]

 

            "Agricultural land" means land suitable for agriculture production. [505 ILCS 19/5]

 

            "Applicant" means a person or agribusiness, as defined in this Part, submitting a written request for program funds appropriated under the Act.

 

            "Application" means a written request for program funds containing the required information and attachments.

 

            "Asset" means, but is not limited to, the following cash crops or feed on hand:  livestock held for sale; breeding stock; marketable bonds and securities; securities not readily marketable; accounts receivable; notes receivable; cash invested in growing crops; net cash value of life insurance; machinery and equipment; cars and trucks; farm and other real estate, including life estates and personal residence; value of beneficial interest in trusts; government payment or grants; and other assets.  [505 ILCS 19/5]

 

            "By-product" means something produced from an agricultural commodity.

 

            "Crop" means a product produced from an agricultural commodity.

 

            "Department" means the Illinois Department of Agriculture.  [505 ILCS 19/5]

 

            "Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. [505 ILCS 19/5]

 

            "Economic impact" means the financial result of the project on the State's agriculture and agribusiness sectors.

 

            "Eligible project" means a project that is eligible for funding as defined in Sections 950.240 and 950.260 of this Part.

 

            "Fiscal year" means July 1 of one year through June 30 of the following year, the fiscal year of the State of Illinois.

 

            "Fund" means the Illinois AgriFIRST Program Fund.  [505 ILCS 19/5]

 

            "Grant" means an Illinois AgriFIRST Program grant authorized by the Act and this Part.

 

            "Grant amount" means an amount that the Department shall pay to a Grantee for its use on an eligible project.

 

            "Grantee" means an Illinois person or agribusiness that has been awarded a grant in accordance with the Act and this Part.

 

            "Lender" means any federal or State chartered bank, federal land bank, production credit association, bank for cooperatives, federal or State chartered savings and loan association or building and loan association, small business investment company, or other institution qualified within this State to originate and service loans, including, but not limited to, insurance companies, credit unions, and mortgage loan companies.  "Lender" includes a wholly owned subsidiary of a manufacturer, seller or distributor of goods or services that makes loans to businesses or individuals, commonly known as a "captive finance company".  [505 ILCS 19/5]

 

            "Liability" includes, but is not limited to, the following:  accounts payable; notes or other indebtedness owed to any source; taxes; rent; amounts owed on real estate contracts or real estate mortgages; judgments; accrued interest payable; liens and any other liability.  [505 ILCS 19/5]

 

            "Person" means, unless limited to a natural person by the context in which it is used, a person, corporation, association, trust, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, or cooperative.  [505 ILCS 19/5]

 

            "Processor" means a person or agribusiness that processes, packages or otherwise enhances the value of agricultural commodities produced in Illinois.

 

            "Product" means an agricultural commodity produced in Illinois.

 

            "Project" means the activity or program of activities described by the Applicant in the Application and approved by the Department.

 

            "Research" means activities related to feasibility studies, technical assistance, market research, technical product design, development and market testing, business plan development and pre-design of facilities for the purpose of adding commercial value to agricultural commodities.

 

            "Review Committee" means the committee appointed by the Director to review and evaluate grant applications and make recommendations to the Director for the award of grants.

 

            "State" means the State of Illinois.  [505 ILCS 19/5]

 

            "Technical assistance" means the paying for services or wages of persons to aid in the growth or progress of a project.

 

            "Total project cost" means all necessary and reasonable costs related to the completion of the project as identified in the budget of the grant agreement.

 

            "Value-added" means processing, packaging, or otherwise enhancing the value of farm and agricultural products or by-products produced in Illinois. [505 ILCS 19/5]