2009, Volume 12, Paper 80

Prepare Don’t Predict

Presentation to the Grains Research and Development Corporation Update for Crop Farm Advisers, Crop Year 2009

Bill Malcolm – Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Melbourne.

The Brief

The Brief given to me from the Grains Research and Development Corporation was:

Grain-growers are increasingly interested in cost-effective farming: how are rising costs, variable climate and other factors likely to change farming over the next 5-10 years.

Soothsaying

Tackling such a Brief, warrants a few words about soothsaying. Soothsaying is the art or gift of prophecy (or the pretence of prophecy) by supernatural means. It is the practice of foreseeing future events by obtaining secret knowledge through communication with divine sources and through omens, oracles, signs and portents. Most people do not have this facility. Most people who claim to have this facility do not have it either.

Download the full PDF version here.