Letter to our readers.

The ides of March are known by classicists and Renaissance literature buffs for all that trouble they bring, but I doubt any of us expected the level of Caesarian intrigue that hit this past month.

Several politicians joined the Roman emperor in falling on or around that spooky point on the calendar, and while it may not have been assassination on the floor of the Senate, it was nevertheless quite sensational.

Grainy videotapes apparently have replaced daggers as the weapon of choice, and national television audiences saw a senator asking for a US$2 million bribe, the Mexico City finance secretary betting at a high-stakes blackjack table in Las Vegas and other city politicians stuffing wads of cash into their literally overflowing pockets.

Implicated by association was Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who was considered the favorite for the 2006 presidential election and has repeatedly congratulated himself and his administration on points of righteous cleanliness.

He claimed to be the target of a smear campaign, but it was hard to dissuade a nation of viewers that some evil camcorder forced his finance secretary to double down with another 10 grand of city government money.

One reaps what one sows, and if the Mexico City government wants to proclaim itself the populist crusader of social justice and good government, then it can hardly blame those opponents who want to harvest images of capital leaders awarding public-work contracts to a backroom buddy.

But let's leave the political commentary to page 18 and talk about another kind of harvest, as agriculture is our cover story and Agriculture Secretary Javier Usabiaga agreed to break down the earthy situation.

And in this wild month, even this traditionally slow-moving sector had some sensational story lines, as the Mexico-U.S. border partially closed as a rare disease cropped up in Texas and Oaxaca farmers got verbally violent with international scientists at a conference on genetically modified corn in Mexico's heartland.

Things have gotten pretty hot in the campo and in the city, so the national holiday of Semana Santa rolls up at a good time for us to take a collective breather. So turn the other cheek (unless it is time for a briefcase exchange), love thy neighbor (especially if he is wired for sound) and forgive and forget (even if the dealer just hit a 16 with a five). Here's wishing all our readers an enjoyable and relaxing holy week, and good luck in all your endeavors.

God bless,

Matthew Brayman

Editor