According to Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, they are.

*****snip from article***** ``The American public can be confident that the major domestic companies, which provide most of the key foods, will continue to operate,'' Glickman wrote in prepared testimony for his appearance today before a Senate committee.

Instead, Glickman warned consumers against ``needless and frivolous stockpiling of supplies.''

*****end snip from article*****

Glickman said results from a survey being released today show that only about one-third of the nation's farmers use computer systems, mostly for record-keeping.

Can I for one, contribute a big DUH here?..... Transportation, storage, etc (you all know the drill)..... all has to be in place for the chain to be unbroken.

Article is located at Y2K Food Shortages Said Unlikely

-- Mr_Kennedy (y2kPCfixes@motivatedseller.com), February 05, 1999

Answers

". . .[N]eedless and frivolous"??? S'funny, when we stockpile our money in banks it's called prudent and good for the country's economy. Glickman also said, "Should there be a disruption of imports, domestically grown fresh fruits and vegetables will continue to be available, although with less variety and possibly at somewhat higher prices than usual." That means, e.g., the grapes, bananas, raspberries, melons, strawberries, avocadoes, peppers, tomatoes, etc., we get at this time of year probably won't be around next year. If they're not around, you can bank on it (oh, sorry, unfortunate choice of words) that other fruit and vegetables will go up in price--supply and demand. Note to self: add jars of roast peppers, packages of dried peppers; increase amounts of canned and dried fruits and veggies.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), February 05, 1999.

Either they can't see the big picture (I doubt it), or they think we can't see the big picture (they hope). If you say something over and over it may come true? Put on your ruby slippers and click your heals folks and repeat after me, "It won't be so bad, it won't be so bad...."

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), February 05, 1999.

thanks for the link, Mr. K. (no relation to Teddy, I hope.) I guess being Sec. of Agriculture doesn't require a working knowledge of the other factors which go in to putting jelly donuts on my table. I guess he's never heard of hybrid seeds, fertilizer factories, fuel refineries, transportation networks, bank loans, and electricity. Yippee! most farmers don't use computers. I feel better already.

-- Q-ball (q@q.q), February 05, 1999.

Control the food control the people!

-- freeman (freeman@cali.com), February 05, 1999.

Check out what Glickman wrote on the USDA web site, date unknown (www.fsis.usda.gov/OM/y2ksecy.htm). It looks like the official word from Mount Sin-I has filtered down to the Sec. of Ag. Time to toe the party line and Whistle a happy tune.

From the website:

Secretary Of Agricultures Statement

When I think about an American family sitting down for a meal, I cannot help but think about the tens of thousands of people whose work went into producing that meal: researchers who discover ways to make our food more nutritious, better-tasting, and safer; farmers and ranchers who raise the huge quantities of plants and animals that nourish us; plant operators who process and package tons of agricultural products daily; food distributors who deliver both domestic and imported products to wholesalers and retailers, and grocery store and restaurant operators who provide us access to an abundant and wide variety of food products.

I must confess, however, that until recently I hadnt thought very much about the connection between the food on our tables and computers. But, as a new millennium approaches, that link is becoming all too clear.

-- bill dunn (bdunn@snet.net), February 05, 1999.

Do you have a dehydrator Git? We started using our oven but got 3 dehydrators since they use very little electricity and can do about 3 oven racks worth of drying (space wise). The best results we have had are with apples, bananas (dipped in orange juice first), bell peppers, onions, peas, carrots, strawberries, pineapple (fresh). Not too good was peaches, asparagus, lettuce, lol, and a few other obvious ones. Dried mushrooms are good too, but we keep them in baby food jars....baggies look "suspicious".....(I remember the 60's)

I couldn't help but notice all the hype they're giving the "success" of the travel reservation in the middle of all this "play-down" testimony we're getting. Nice to be able to tout a success on a necessary part of our survival such as hotel and airline reservations, which BTW, is not actually "verified" until the reservation systems roll over and are operating in the actual year 2000 environment. Be interesting to see if the reservations made now show up on the computer monitors for the actual dates of arrival.

Let's see, spin-meisters have been busy here lately. Banks, travel, food,..... next should be oil, securities, utilities...

Yippee! most farmers don't use computers. I feel better already.

-- Q-ball (q@q.q)

LOL

-- Mr_Kennedy (y2kPCfixes@motivatedseller.com), February 05, 1999.

Bill,

Here is the page Information on the link you provided: Location: http://www.fsis.usda.go v/OM/y2ksecy.htm

File MIME Type:text/html Source:Currently in disk cache Local cache file:MUBH1H54.HTM Last Modified:Wednesday, February 03, 1999 13:30:58 Local time Last Modified:Wednesday, February 03, 1999 18:30:58 GMT Content Length:6830 Expires:No date given Charset:Unknown Security:This is an insecure document that is not encrypted and offers no security protection.

----------------------------------

He makes you want to drag out the violins, doesn't he? But, shown above, this document was posted just this past wednesday.

Mr. K

-- Mr_Kennedy (y2kPCfixes@motivatedseller.com), February 05, 1999.

Funny, the last time I picked up a farming mag, teh story was on GPS and crop rotation, by specific hybrids.

Ummmmmmm.....

Chuck, who gets cluelesser by the minute

-- Chuck, night driver (rienzoo@en.com), February 05, 1999.

"Cluelesser"

I like it, Chuck. It's kind of like, "The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know."

-- bill dunn (bdunn@snet.net), February 05, 1999.

Mr kennedy, Our ancestors must have been extremely frivolous. I, for one, am greatful that they did their frivolous investing at home. Otherwise, there would be no me. Many thanks for your insights.

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), February 05, 1999.

Perhaps "they" all think if people are encouraged to see only little pictures, they won't see big ones, and won't panic or stock up.

Humm. The Mormon's -- 10 million people -- are encouraged to store one year's supply of food. Wonder what the .gov types call them?

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 05, 1999.

"...needless and frivolous stockpiling of supplies..."

I'm not quite sure why, but this one really pushes my buttons. The Secretary Of Agriculture of the United States, a member of the President's Cabinet, and he has the audacity to know what is "needless and frivolous" for me. Why should he or anyone else give a damn how I spend my money. No, don't answer that, I know I know...

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), February 05, 1999.

*ahem* and how long has it been since there wasn't a hack in the Sec. of Ag position? Anybody remember Earl Butz? Anybody still wonder why farmers dislike the feds so much?

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), February 05, 1999.

Thought we were ready and prepared. The good Secretary has provided another reason for us to do a bit more of that "needless and frivilous" stockpiling. It seems it might be a wise investment to buy now while prices are cheap. He has forecasted a food shortage due to foreign suppliers having problems and also increased prices. I think I shall continue with my "needless and frivilous" preparations that so far seems to be presenting no problems with supply and demand at all the local grocery stores where we live.

I am sure that if and when the demand starts exceeding the current capacity to meet supply and demand the powers that be shall find ways to deal with it.

If as Mr. Glickman predicts there is a limited food supply and higher prices next year due to the effect of Y2K; I shall feel a great sense of a) pride in the fact that I shall not need to extract any food from the limited supply at that time; and b) relief that I shall not have to pay the higher prices that he foresees.

One persons "needless and frivolous" is anothers "wise investment". Beanie babies come to mind for some unknown reason.

I think it is going to be hard to recondition the American public not to stockpile if a shortage is foreseen. They have been conditioned to do it for years and I think it is safe to say that the habit shall not be easily broken now.

-- Ready And (Prepared@home.com), February 05, 1999.

The most amusing thing about all this is that American farmers are going broke right now because Asia can't afford to buy our agricultural surpluses anymore. We're doing farmers a favor by buying what Asia can't.

I think the debate about stockpiling deals with money--banks. Many people who believe in setting aside extra food also believe in setting aside some extra cash. The cash aspect scares the government. They have to convince the public there is no need for preparation of any kind, so that the thought of setting aside cash won't come up.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 05, 1999.

I think this quote ``needless and frivolous stockpiling of supplies" may go down in history with "let them eat cake". And you all know what happened to Marie Antoinette...

-- Runway Cat (Runway_Cat@hotmail.com), February 05, 1999.

Interesting that one of the heads on the hydra says stockpiling is "needless and frivolous" and a different head says that stockpiling is what will cause a panic and yet a different head says stockpiling leads to wearing cammo clothes and bombing people.

I guess thats the nature of hydras.

Greybear

- Got snake repellant?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), February 05, 1999.

Kevin,

I totally agree.

-- Carol (usa-uk@email.msn.com), February 05, 1999.

I would hate to be the Secretary of Agriculture next year if his prediction is wrong...starving people can be a bit grumpy or even irrational...

-- Harrison Bergeron (coprolith@rocketship.com), February 05, 1999.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but my dull mind tells me that Earl Butz was Sec of the Interior.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), February 05, 1999.

Mr kennedy, Our ancestors must have been extremely frivolous. I, for one, am greatful that they did their frivolous investing at home. --- Watchful

You know, Watchful, I'm glad my folks did too. And I think that this is why, like pshannon, this particular phrase sticks in my craw. My grandmother used to cook the BEST biscuits on a woodstove. She and G-pa taught me how to raise and store food, because it was our way of life.

Just because jerks like that (Bennett and other govt.) can't imagine living or don't want to go back to living without a grocery store up their butts doesn't mean they have the right to deny me the rights to store and produce my own provisions without being labeled a kook doing "needless and frivolous things".

THEY are trying to protect the money. I am trying to protect my hide.

They (govt. & big business) are trying to shame and embarass us into letting them keep our money so their little ponzi schemes and securities won't come crashing down before their beady little eyes. So far we've been called, publicly documented....: kooks, fanatics, doomsayers, liberals (that's not TOO bad), rouges, hoarders, extremists, nuts, clans, paranoid, survivalists (in the militant sense), idiots, zealots, and a whole host of other names. Our actions have been publicly described as nonsense, barbaric, fatalistic, detremental, panic causing, delusional, paranoid, useless, etc, and now needless and frivolous. All of these terms have been used in their press releases, interviews and prepared statements!!

I think what has ticked me off about this latest scene today is what touched pshannon off too. I am old enough to know that we did not build America or any other civilization off of computers doing the farming, cooking, cleaning, or LIVING. We as human beings are being treated badly because of a box of CHIPS. Due to large government and business moves to eliminate workers with COMPUTERS for profits, our livelyhoods and mere survival has been placed to the rear of the priority list. Couple corporate downsizing with some of the dumbest "banking" tactics imaginable (Fractional Reserve, for one), and look what they have subjected us to. I, for one, can still use a pencil. It doesn't hurt my bottom line one bit.

Most of the population is hostage. Most don't get it or don't want to. We are only a small portion of the entire population that the government has to belittle to keep in control or keep tabs on. So, we earned near "terrorist" status last week.

I'll be danged if I'll forget how to survive and do for myself, just so the government can "hoard my money and keep the supreme government and capitalist dream alive". My money is already out of the bank. I'm already mostly off the grid. Don't think I'll go back either. Not after this sham. I wouldn't want to dishonor my grandparents and grandparents before them like this.

-- Mr. K (needful@ndfrivolful.here), February 05, 1999.

Sorry, but I've got the giggles ...

Got salt for your CHIPS? Remember banana slugs?

Diane@kidstuff

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 05, 1999.