Corn and viciss -- wot?

There is a lovely word in the English language -- vicissitude. It is a noun and refers to the way things change. Speak of the vicissitudes of life and your audience will listen intently, aware that your tidings might mean some adaption is required in their world.

We know that much is uncertain in life, and agriculture is no exception. A year ago, this country was expecting one of its greatest maize (corn) harvests yet. It is one of the posts still read at least once a day on this website in 2015. Now, this year, as a result of a drought, we are warned about possible food price rises.

Across the world in the USA, the news this morning is that gains made in corn futures are being capped by crop-friendly weather. The weather means ideal conditions for developing corn and soybean crops, so we expect to pay the farmer less for our food. This weather comes after three months of heavy rains. Today, in the same broadcast, we read about a 50-mile stretch (80 kilometers) along the Illinois River closed to traffic after that state's wettest June on record. The weather is one reason that US wheat is currently more difficult to market in Egypt and other countries, being $50 per tonne more expensive than wheat shipped out of the Black Sea region (Russia and the Ukraine).

How does the person of the soil cope with the Weather in running the business? Risk management and Commodity trading are two of the 180 chapters in The Agri Handbook which cover strategies of adapting to the vicissitudes of farming.

We apologise for the delay in printing the next edition of the publication, and have made the 5th edition a free download (see here). Much patience is required each time the publication comes together -- it is not an in-house project and some of the processes are outside of our control. We are confident that the edition to come will delight you, once again. 

Half a century

The Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) is the umbrella body representing those with an interest in range and pastures. Of course, that covers a wide range of disciplines including ecology, botany, zoology, range and pasture science, animal science, soil science and genetics.

Our very best greetings to them: the organisation turns 50 this month! The annual congress will be held at the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg from the 21 - 23 July.

The GSSA is relevant to several chapters in The Agri Handbook, including Rangeland/veld, Forage & pastures and Seeds & seedlings.

Find the review of The Agri Handbook which appeared in the GSSA's African Journal of Range & Forage Science here.