If you are among the world of the computer literate, you have probably heard of the millennium bug, also known as Y2K.

Here is the Problem
Many of the world's computers use two digits to represent a year. Using two digits to keep track of data on January 1, 2000 will cause computers to recognize a double zero "00" as being year 1900 and not year 2000. When the date changes from December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000 systems and equipment that are not Year 2000 compatible will face two problems.

1. The inability to determine the correct date. Not knowing the correct date can have serious repercussions such as causing electronic equipment to stop running, producing erroneous data or producing no data at all.

2. The inability to tell the number of elapsed years between two dates. This problem could prove to be fatal in certain instances where dates are important such as in dealing with medicines and expiration dates.

Who Will Be Effected
Everyone -- most of the world's economic sectors have become dependant on the electronic processing and exchange of info. An interruption in computer driven data systems could mean an interruption in every aspect of life including financial, health, transportation, and economic growth. The global economy is also at risk. Any failure -- the inability of a stock market to open, difficulties with banks processing transactions, slowdowns in commuter traffic due to malfunctions in traffic signals, power companies unable to provide power to customers, disruption in food production, food spoilage due to the failure of computer operated food storage or delivery refrigerated systems. The nation's food supply is a good example. Food suppliers are heavily reliant on computerized processing and information exchange. Farmers and ranchers use electronic equipment to water fields, feed animals, milk cows, and transport what they produce. Processors rely on automated systems that help prepare and package consumer-ready products. Distributors, wholesalers and retailers rely on computer driven equipment to order, bill, keep inventory counts, transport, deliver, store, display and sell products. Any interruptions long this chain could result in a direct loss to those who supply food. This can result in more expensive, less available food.

What Equipment Will Be Effected
Equipment that has embedded chips need to be reprogrammed. Examples include: large mainframe computers like those used by the federal government, banking, insurance, manufacturing, large agricultural production and processing centers and major food retailers. Small businesses including small farmers, processors, and grocery stores with non-Y2K compliant hardware and software are at risk. Equipment with time-dependant embedded computer chips are vulnerable: harvesting equipment, milking machinery, grain elevators, plant and truck refrigeration systems, grocery and restaurant cash registers, telephones, gas and water facilities and plant assembly lines.

What The Federal Government is Doing
Internally, the government has been working on their own systems to ensure that their equipment is Y2K compliant. They are making inventories of all their data exchanges with outside business partners. For high-risk areas, agencies are developing contingency plans to ensure that they will be able to conduct business even if their systems, or the outside services on which they depend, are not available. Externally, the government is undertaking a massive outreach program aimed at making private-sector organizations aware of Y2K problems and solutions. The President's Council of Year 2000 Conversion has established federal working groups in key U.S. economic sectors such as finance, transportation and health to provide this outreach. The Department of Agriculture is leading the government's outreach effort to the food supply sector, working with the Departments of Defense, Heath and Human Services and State and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. These departments have been asked to coordinate an outreach campaign in the food sector because all have food sector constituents.

This outreach campaign, coordinated by The Food Supply Working Group has identified nearly 100 broad constituency categories that are involved in food production or distribution. It is working closely with industry and other groups to raise awareness about the Y2K problem and possible solutions.

What You Should Do
The Food Supply Working Group suggests six steps to ensure readiness for the year 2000. Every plan should include:

Awareness: Make everyone -- from employees, suppliers and service companies aware of the potential for Y2K problems and what it is going to take to get your systems compliant.

Inventory: Conduct an inventory of every automated system in your operation - automatic feeders, irrigation systems, utilities, communications, accounting, and conveyors. This should include hardware, software and embedded chips. Any of these systems could be vulnerable to year 2000 problems.

Assessment: After you have identified your automated systems, write or call the manufacturer and ask if their system or device is Year 2000 compliant. Ask for written confirmation through an official letter if the system is compliant, and if not, ask for instructions on how to proceed if it is not.

Solutions: If you can not get an official letter of compliance in a reasonable time before the year 2000, you need to determine which systems are most critical and need immediate attention. Set priorities for dealing with your systems and address them in that order.

There are three options for addressing systems that are not Y2K compliant:

1. Upgrade systems to the latest Y2K compliant version, if available.

2. Replace systems with systems that are Y2K compliant.

3. Fix systems by scanning all systems and programs to check for date routines or date storage fields and fix them to create compliance.

Testing: The next step is testing. To properly test the system, the date on the computers should be reset to 01-01-2000 and run it for an extended period.

Contingency Planning: A good contingency plan should include ways to back up and protect your business's data, ensure continued production with limited delay, ensue continued cash and product flow, and make clear the responsibilities of key employees during any Y2K mishaps.

Y2K impacts not only your operation but has the potential to affect your interaction with support services, such as banks, supply warehouses, transportation and more. A solid contingency plan must consider the potential impacts to your business if any of these systems fail.

Don't be caught off guard when January 1, 2000 rolls around. Remember -- sometimes you're the windshield -- sometimes you're the bug!! Take the steps necessary to be prepared! For more information on Y2K, point your browser to http://www.year2000.com.

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