AGRICULTURE Minister Nick Brown is to launch a huge campaign to stop hundreds of North Yorkshire farmers sleepwalking towards Millennium bug disaster.

Mr Brown will make a keynote speech within weeks to highlight the threat to the industry.

National Farmers' Union leader Ben Gill urged farmers to check machinery to avoid chaos from computer equipment on the blink. Equipment could grind to a halt in milking parlours, on tractors, automatic feeding and watering systems, spraying and drilling equipment, and glasshouses with environmental monitoring.

Mr Gill, who farms near Easingwold, said: "A lot of farmers don't appreciate there is computer technology controlling certain aspects of their machinery.

"There is a risk which needs to be quantified. The problem is the unknown. We don't know where these computer chips might be.

"Any farm where they have a computer in any way or form should check with the manufacturer or person who has supplied it that it is compatible with the Millennium."

The NFU is working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to raise awareness of the Millennium bug.

A ministerial source said: "There is going to be a big campaign to farmers. It is going to be a keynote speech on what we are doing. "We would urge farmers to check what the position is on their farms.

"We are urgently considering the position of farmers and will be giving them advice."

MAFF will offer farmers help in dealing with the Millennium bug.

Mr Brown will announce the details of this in his speech.

Ryedale Tory MP John Greenway agreed farmers needed to be made more aware of the potential problems.

He said: "There is no doubt that the Millennium bug could disrupt large sections of all businesses and farming and the food industry could be part of that.

"It sounds to me that a campaign within the farming industry would be a good idea - if it is not too late."

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