I would like to thank all the distinguished witnesses before us today for taking the time to testify, including our distinguished Secretary of Agriculture and the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. I am also very pleased to see that many of our major national food producers and distributors are participating in this important hearing. In my former life, before serving as a U.S. Senator, I was a frozen food processor. As with many businesses, food suppliers are increasingly dependent on computerized processing and information exchange. For example, farmers and ranchers use electronically equipped irrigation systems, animal systems and transport systems.
Food processors rely on automated systems that help prepare and package consumer-ready products.
Distributors, wholesalers, and retailers depend on computer- driven equipment to transport, deliver, store, display, and sell food products. Inventory and accounting systems, harvesting equipment, grain elevators, refrigeration and security systems also depend on the computations of computers. And with a finite supply of food, it is my hope that this hearing will shed light on not only the major food producers' Y2K contingency plans, but also the small farmers' readiness. We need to assure America that we will continue to be able to provide the best and freshest food products to the dinner table on January 1, 2000. Thank you Mr. Chairman.