I will be presenting a poster paper entitled, "Y2K and Agriculture,"
at the 1999 Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in January. In
the paper, I intend to provide a brief overview of the Y2K problem
and its potential effects. (I am NOT a computer type, by any
stretch, so I'll be attempting to summarize what I've learned from
others.)
Also, a key part of my poster paper is producer attitudes about and
their plans regarding Y2K. That is why I am posting this message to
your group. (This is going to a number of listservers - I apologize
for any duplication.) What follows is a brief survey designed to
provide some basic information about agricultural producers know and
think about the potential Y2K problem. The survey instrument is
patterned after one used in a recent Harris survey. Your response
will be kept strictly confidential. To avoid cluttering up your
"space," please send your responses directly to me at:
little@agecon.msstate.edu
If you would like a copy of the final paper, please let me know and
I will e-mail it to you as soon as I can. Thanks in advance for
your participation.
Randall D. Little
Associate Professor
Department of Agricultural Economics
Mississippi State University
Y2K and Agriculture: A Brief Producer Survey
Please check (i.e., with an "X") the statement that best describes
your response to the question or statement. Unless otherwise
indicated, please check only one item per question.
1. Which of the following statements best describes your
understanding of the Y2K that may arise?
I have no understanding of the Y2K problem.
I have a limited understanding of the Y2K problem.
I have a good understanding of the Y2K problem.
I have a complete understanding of the Y2K problem.
2. How serious do you believe the impact of the Y2K problem will be
on you and your family?
Not at all serious.
Not very serious.
Somewhat serious.
Very serious.
3. Do you believe the Y2K problem will result in a doomsday
scenario (with extensive power outages, food shortages, etc)?
Doomsday scenario.
Something in between.
Negligible effects.
4. Do you plan to prepare yourself and your family against the
possible effects of the Y2K problem before Jan. 1, 2000?
Yes
No
5. Have you considered taking any of the following actions to
prepare for Jan. 1, 2000? (On Question 5, please check all that
apply.)
Avoiding air travel
Withdrawing money from a bank or financial institution
Purchasing extra supplies
Purchasing extra food
Purchasing extra fuel
Gathering family members at a central location
Avoiding automobile travel
Relocating to a remote location
Other actions (Please list)
6. Do you believe that the U.S. stock market will be negatively
affected by the Y2K problem around the turn of the century?
Yes
No
Not sure
7. Do you currently invest in the stock market?
Yes
No
8. If yes, do you plan to sell at least some of your stock because
of risks perceived due to the Y2K problem?
Yes
No
Not sure
9. Do you believe that Y2K problems will push the U.S. economy into
a recession in 2000?
Yes
No
Not sure
10. Do you believe that Y2K problems will push the World economy
into a recession in 2000?
Yes
No
Not sure
11. Using a 5-point scale, where 1 is "Not at all affected" and 5
is "Very seriously affected," please indicate how much you think the
Y2K problem will affect each of the following sectors:
Agriculture/Agribusiness
Banking/Financial Services
Business Services
Construction
Health Care
Insurance
Government
Manufacturing
Petro/Chemical
Professional Services
Retail
Telecommunication
Transportation
Utilities
12. Using a 5-point scale, where 1 is "Not at all affected" and 5
is "Very seriously affected," please indicate how much you think the
Y2K problem will affect these segments of the agribusiness sector:
Machinery and equipment manufacturers
Input suppliers
Farmers and ranchers
Farm commodity buyers
Farm commodity transporters
Food and fiber processors
Wholesalers
Food and fiber product transporters
Retail establishments
Consumers
13. Using a 5-point scale, where 1 is "Not at all affected" and 5
is "Very seriously affected," please indicate how much you think the
Y2K problem will affect these types of operations in production
agriculture:
Hog
Dairy
Beef cattle
Poultry
Row crop
Fruit and vegetable
14. Have you conducted a self-assessment to determine your personal
and business vulnerability to the Y2K problem?
Yes
Not yet, but I plan to
No and I don't plan to
15. If yes (or if you plan to), please indicate what you (or plan
to) have assessed:
Business/personal computers
Software
Electronic equipment that uses embedded chips
16. Have you spoken with your input suppliers about their Y2K
compliance?
Yes
Not yet, but I plan to
No and I don't plan to
17. If yes, were you satisfied with their progress towards being
Y2K compliant?
Yes
No
18. Have you spoken with the purchasers of your farm commodities
about their Y2K compliance?
Yes
Not yet, but I plan to
No and I don't plan to
19. If yes, were you satisfied with their progress towards being
Y2K compliant?
Yes
No
20. Contingency plans are responses to "what if" scenarios to help
prepare for the possibility that certain systems will not be fixed
and thus will not continue to function after January 1, 2000. Have
you developed contingency plans for your operation?
Yes
No, but I plan to
No, I don't see the need for contingency planning
21. If you have or plan to develop contingency plans, please
briefly describe each, including the perceived risk (i.e., a power
outage) and your response to that risk (i.e., a generator with
stored fuel).
23. What is your age?
19 or under
20 to 29
30 to 39
40 to 49
50 to 59
60 to 69
70 or older
24. How many years have you been farming?
Less than 5
5 to 9
10 to 14
15 to 19
20 to 24
25 to 29
30 or more
25. Which best reflects your situation?
Full-time farming/ranching, no off-farm income
Full-time farming/ranching, spouse employed off-farm
Part-time farming/ranching, part-time off-farm
Part-time farming/ranching, part-time off-farm, spouse employed off-farm
Hobby farm/ranch, employed full-time off-farm
Retired farmer/rancher
26. Where do you live?
United States - Northeast
United States - Southeast
United States - Midwest
United States - Great Plains
United States - Southwest
United States - West
Canada
Latin America, South America, or Mexico
Australia or New Zealand
Other (Please list your home country)
27. What farm commodities do you produce on your farm or ranch?
(Please rank in order of importance to your operation, with a 1
indicating the most important commodity. For commodities you do not
produce, leave blank.)
Corn
Soybeans
Wheat
Grain Sorghum
Rice
Cotton
Fruits
Vegetables
Dairy
Beef Cattle
Hogs
Poultry
Sheep
Other
Thank you very much for your time and effort responding to this
survey. I appreciate your participation. Have a blessed holiday
season!
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