There is hereby established the Farm Crisis and Transition Program of the State of Alabama (herein called "the program") which shall come into existence upon April 29, 1986, and shall continue for a period ending on September 30, 1991, unless earlier terminated by action of the Legislature. The program shall be under the direction and control of the Farm Crisis and Transition Program Commission (herein called "the commission"), which shall consist of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries of the state, the Chairman of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee of the Senate of Alabama, the Chairman of the Agriculture and Forestry Committee of the House of Representatives of Alabama, the Director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the President of the Alabama Farm Bureau Federation, three full-time farmers, one each to be appointed by the Governor, the Speaker, and the Lieutenant Governor, all of whom shall serve ex officio and without compensation. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries shall be the chairman of the commission and shall be responsible for convening such meetings of the commission as shall be necessary for the commission to carry out its functions under this chapter, which shall include the power to provide policies and guidelines for use in carrying out this chapter. The commission shall have the power, acting through its chairman, to conduct such programs and activities and shall be authorized under this chapter and that are useful and desirable in providing retraining and adjustment programs for dislocated and economically distressed farmers in Alabama. The commission shall also have the power, acting through its chairman, to contract for such services and the use of such facilities as may be necessary to carry out its purposes hereunder and to function as an agency of the State of Alabama throughout the state both directly and through regional offices established as provided herein. The commission shall have the power to employ and provide for the compensation of a program coordinator and necessary staff. To the extent available, physical facilities of the Department of Agriculture and Industries and other agencies of the state shall be made available to the commission on a rent-free basis for its use in carrying out the program. The commission shall have the power to develop all necessary rules respecting eligibility for participation by farmers in the program, and such other rules and regulations as may be necessary in the circumstances. The commission shall further have the power in its discretion to appoint an advisory committee made up of such interested and informed citizens of the state as shall be chosen by the commission to advise the commission on the effectiveness of its proposed or ongoing programs.