First announcement: Annual Congress of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa

The theme of the Annual GSSA Congress is “Advancing Rangeland Ecology and Pasture Management in Africa” (Picture: Mitzi du Plessis)

The 46^th Annual Congress of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) will be held from 10 -15 July 2011 in the Eastern Cape province. It will be hosted by Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute in Middelburg.

Situated in the foothills of the Renosterberg and surrounded by the characteristic bossies and koppies of the Karoo, Middelburg and Grootfontein have a long history in agriculture. The Agricultural College is celebrating its centenary this year and the Grassland Society is honoured to be included in the programme of events!

Preliminary programme

Registration will open at 14:00. The Congress will begin at 18:00 with a Keynote Address, Presidential Address and “Meet & Greet” dinner.

Tuesday:

Platform and poster presentations, workshops, symposia, etc. until 15:00 when the Society AGM will be held, followed by a Karoo-themed supper with spitbraai.

Wednesday:

Platform and poster presentations, workshops, symposia, etc. plus a technology transfer session aimed at the local farming community, entitled "Rangelands: Both Sides of the Coin". Delegates are invited to submit titles for consideration for this session. Three mid-Congress tours will be held on Wednesday afternoon, showcasing the Thornsprings Restoration Trial, the Bergkamp Long Term Trial and the history of Grootfontein. A “steak evening” will conclude the day’s proceedings.

Thursday:

Platform and poster presentations, workshops, symposia, etc. followed by the Gala Dinner.

Friday:

Four post-Congress tours have been planned:

• Dairy Farming at the University of Fort Hare
• Dohne Fine Wool Stud Breeding on the Cradock Experimental Farm
• Addo Elephant Park: Home to the Big Seven
• Extended Tour of the Long Term Trials at Grootfontein: The Oldest in Southern Africa

These tours are optional and there will be an additional charge for them. Delegates who are not participating in post-Congress tours can either depart or go on local self-drive tours described in the tourism information pack (e.g. Nieu Bethesda, Valley of Desolation, Mountain Zebra National Park)

Several special sessions, symposia and workshops are being organised in addition to the standard sessions. Further details will become available in the coming weeks. If you would like to submit an idea, please do so as soon as possible. Organisers of special sessions, symposia, workshops, etc. are encouraged to publish contributions in a special issue of African Journal of Range and Forage Science. Remember that page charges for all papers published by GSSA members will be ZERO!!

Registration

Early bird registration will be R2 800 for members of the Society and R3 100 for non-members (and members who have outstanding fees). Payment of these registration fees must be RECEIVED by 31 March 2011. Thereafter, registration will be R3 000 for members and R3 300 for non-members respectively.

Registration should be done via the online registration form or by sending an email to congress@grassland.org.za

Further details - including details of the tours, accommodation costs and planned symposia - will follow shortly. Please diarise the dates and include the fees in your annual budget.

DEADLINE FOR TITLE SUBMISSION: 31 MARCH 2011
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: 29 APRIL 2011
DEADLINE FOR EARLY BIRD PAYMENTS: 31 MARCH 2011