As I prepare to attack an unfamiliar problem with mounting schedule pressures and dire consequences for failure, I've been on the edge of a similar cliff more times than I care to mention.

Years of mismanagement and the Socialists' failure to trim public spending enough, or to reduce a huge pension burden, have left Hungary's economy on the edge of meltdown.

I guess they just can't afford to let any field lie fallow, because they're already living on the edge, but the result is going to be declining yields and ultimately crop failure.