Did anyone else watch the Greenspan doings today in congress? Following his speach, there was an extended question and answer period. Sometimes I glean little tidbits from these. Today was a case in point. My tendancy is to listen to him on economic matters whether or not I agree.

Do you remember when he described his time as a programmer

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), June 17, 1999

Answers

Sorry

He said that 99% was not good enough for banks. Earlier this year the secretary of agriculture made a statement:

I am pleased to report that based on the information we have collected to date, the Food Supply Working Group does not believe the Year 2000 problem will cause widespread, or severe, disruptions in the food supply. It is most likely that the year 2000 problem will result in some minor effects, localized by region or by a particular food product.

One of the questions that Greenspan answered today was related. Someone asked him why the ag industry was in such poor shape. Greenspan said it was due to the tremendous increase in productivity in agriculture brought about by the use of "digital technology". Once again I am hearing two different explanations. I wonder who is correct?

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), June 17, 1999.

If you're bettin' the rent money, don't bet against Greenspan.

C

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), June 18, 1999.

I work in an ag-related sector.

Aggies around here are "clueless" that there might be a problem with their equipment. (Although some are preparing personally for utility disruptions.)

They are too busy not getting needed bank and government loans; fighting a colder than normal crop stunting spring; waiting for the other shoe to drop in enforcement on our several listed endangered species; trying to break even on market prices; anticipating that their pesticides and fertilizers will be yanked by the EPA; wading through water quality and stream flow regulations that could kill the irrigation season; struggling with oportunistic astronomical diesel prices; having their electrical company divest itself of their service; gasping at the expense of required mitigations, fees and permit conditions that will allow them to continue to farm, ranch or log.

But, it's ok. Secretary Glickman says "no problem" - well, maybe the least of our problems.....

Our national farm organization has published three articles for leaders on y2k awareness. Our State organization (CA) has published one. The regional ag weekly has published none that I can find.

-- marsh (armstrng@sisqtel.net), June 18, 1999.