A few notes to responds to the comments above....
---- Silverfunk: The collapse timeframe is impossible to predict accurately. Picture a man with a gun in his hand, with his finger on the trigger; the gun is loaded but the timing is up to him. The coming collapse will be triggered to ensure the largest possible impact - it won't just happen by accident. Expect to be terrified then things will get worse.
That said, for various technical reasons I don't think the collapse can be successfully 'hidden' beyond another 28 months. I expect it to occur before then - otherwise the risk of an 'unplanned' collapse becomes very real.
Regarding the famine, it's already underway, and prices will continue to rise as supplies dwindle worldwide - we will see double digit food inflation by July. I'm sorry to reiterate that Australia will suffer from the famine, along with everyone else. Even the USA's strategic wheat and corn supplies will run out. This is not like 'normal' wartime austerity measures - this is a global situation affecting all the major food producing countries of the world. Yes, food rationing is a way to stabilize food consumption, but it's not a 'supply' solution; it merely limits hoarding and spreads the pain.
Folks: Do not rely on any "powers that be" for much help in the coming famine. Governments will do what they can in terms of reducing taxes and duties and assisting farmers, but this famine is going to be long and severe. World reserves may *never* recover and millions of vulnerable people worldwide will die. People will be planting their back yards and front yards. I cannot stress enough that this is real and governments are not magicians and cannot afford to feed us all for years on end even if grains were available. The pollies are just very ordinary people with their own families; don't expect them to somehow 'rescue' you. In some countries the Governments can merely advise people about which weeds or grasses are edible and which are dangerous.
Hot tip: Broad beans (hey, who just said yuk?!) grow easily in many parts of Australia and supply protein and other nutrients. Start getting educated now about nutrition and food growing and storage techniques. Research "Heirloom Seeds."
---- Villiagegate: It would be nice if it was just 'famine' OR 'collapse' wouldn't it? You are right, urban farming will take off, and the price of arable land within 100km of capital cities will skyrocket. I have no doubt that many latent green thumbs will emerge as a result of the necessity.
Ironically, I also expect that people who consume the 'locally' grown food will find it to be surprisingly nutritious - containing lots of trace elements (like chromium) that are often depleted from intensively farmed soils. (During WWII the British diet was surprisingly healthy - although rationed.)
---- Slam: Keep stacking those bags. Brown rice is even more nutritious than white rice due to its vitamin B content, but rice is a wonderful food. It's also an outstanding investment in 2011 as you have already found! Keep the bags cool and away from rodents. People with evaporative air coolers beware of the high ambient humidity that these produce some paper sacks can gradually absorb this moisture. Do you homework and learn as you go.
---- MelbBrad: When I first understood these things I was scared too and found it hard to sleep! But you do have time now to come to terms with these things, and think things through. It takes time to plan and adapt yourself. Read some books.
Errol43's comments are spot on! My own advice is the same: If you want to grow your own food then get your soil tested, talk to professional farmers and experts and find out what will grow best in your area. Work out what your yields might be for different crops or animals (goats are great!), and consider their water needs; then consider how much food your family will need. Boys eat a lot don't they? But they can earn their keep during the harvest! Then get going, start small, run a few test plots, sell some silver and get some BIG water tanks and see how things go. Nothing beats experience when it comes to gardening. You can ramp up production as you become more experienced. I'm sure the flexibility you have shown in your career will not be wasted! (Can I pre-order some onions?)
---- Peter: You are correct that meat will become expensive. In fact, what usually happens is that animal feed prices go up, so meat prices go up, but when stock feeds become too expensive the herds are slaughtered and meat prices suddenly decline dramatically, but after that point meat prices go sky high again - and stay there. Meat becomes very hard to find.
And yes, when the Chinese property bubble pops Australia's ore exports will fall drastically and our economy will go (are you ready intelligencer?) full retard!
---- JulieW: Great links. I like his English! A very warm man and very practical!
---- errol43: Such a delight to read your wise and kind words to MelBrad! The precautionary principle is very apt here. In fact preparing for a famine in an inflationary economy is a fantastic investment strategy. It's a win-Bigwin situation.
