Business/Finance Archives - Page 12 of 18

Index investing versus buying mutual funds

Guarding Wealth: To get diversification in your portfolio you have to pay for it, but not every mix works

By Andrew Allentuck December 6, 2017

There is an old saying that you can’t beat the market. Famed investor Warren Buffett has said, “Mr. Market always wins.” One school of investing agrees that, given you can’t beat the market, you might as well join it. That is the birth of index investing: the concept of buying index funds packed in exchange […] Read more

Machinery, Wheat & Chaff

Red 4WD Tractors, 1957 – 2017 is a detailed history

A new book for the tractor lover in your life

By Scott Garvey November 17, 2017

Lee Klancher’s new book Red 4WD Tractors, 1957 – 2017 is no lightweight, figuratively or literally. (That seems only fitting, given the high-horsepower subject matter.) The large format book runs over 370 pages and includes a more than ample helping of rare photos. With Red 4WD Tractors, Klancher follows up on his previous book about […] Read more

Crops, News

Cargill expands its ProPricing program

This pricing program is now available to western Canadian canola and soybean growers

By Angela Lovell November 14, 2017

Cargill is expanding its ProPricing grain marketing program to canola and soybeans growers in Western Canada for the 2017-18 season. Cargill has been offering ProPricing in Western Canada only for hard spring red wheat over the past four years, but felt it was a logical time to expand into other western Canadian grown commodities. “Basically, […] Read more

Columns

Farm Financial Planner: Grandchild will inherit widow’s farm

Managing taxes across the generations takes extra effort and a careful approach

By Andrew Allentuck November 9, 2017

Celeste, as we’ll call her, is 75. She lives in south central Manitoba and owns a 320-acre farm. Her husband, who we’ll call Edward, passed away earlier this year. The farm, a mixed grain and grazing operation, was profitable for many years. The couple put about $382,300 into off-farm investments over the years. Celeste’s problem […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Lower supply outlook strengthens cattle prices

Market Update: The market is not getting more bearish but rather looking neutral to bullish

By Jerry Klassen November 8, 2017

Alberta fed cattle were trading in the range of $137 to $138 in mid-October, up approximately $4 from average September values. Beef production during October appears to be coming in lower than anticipated. At the same time, retail and restaurant demand appears to be coming in higher than expected due robust consumer spending. Looking forward, […] Read more

This BASF-supplied photo shows a still vigorously growing pea crop (left) produced with Nodulator Duo compared to pea crop produced with a competing inoculant product.

Crops, Features, Pulses

New bacteria enhance N-fixing performance

Natural soil molecules recruited to help increase pulse crop growth and yield

By Lee Hart November 1, 2017

BASF Canada and Monsanto BioAg have both added different naturally occurring soil bacteria to pulse crop inoculants to enhance the nitrogen fixing capability and growth of pea and lentil crops. Pulsea crop growers are no doubt familiar with BASF’s Nodulator and Monsanto BioAG’s TagTeam pulse crop inoculants. They’ve been around for years. For the 2018 […] Read more

Columns, Marketing, Markets

Time to re-evaluate your grain marketing plan

With the crop in the bin, should you be selling now or holding out for higher prices?

By Brian Wittal October 25, 2017

This year’s fall weather was exceptional and most harvesting was done in record time. The biggest surprise I heard from producers is that yields were well above expectations. Many said they figured the yield monitors on their combines were out to lunch when they saw the numbers! This brings a good problem: most producers, even […] Read more

Stock market chart on LCD screen. Selective focus.

Columns, Guarding Wealth

Global junk

Guarding Wealth: Scorned in the past, it’s become glamorous in a market driven by index funds

By Andrew Allentuck October 13, 2017

The investment market at times resembles a circus in which the strangest acts sell the most tickets. In the latest bit of acrobatics, sovereign junk bonds issued by national governments are turning in their best performance in years. For example, European sovereign junk returned 100 per cent in the nine years since the mid-2008 beginning […] Read more

The CASA conference will include a session on drone safety.

News, Wheat & Chaff

Farm safety conference to focus on new and emerging agricultural trends

By Canadian Agricultural Safety Association September 29, 2017

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) will holdits 23rd annual conference “Agsafety — Make it a Record Year!” and annual general meeting in Edmonton, Alta., from October 3 to 5, 2017. “Farming is dynamic,” says Marcel Hacault, CASA’s Executive Director. “Trends, technology and legislation affect how we deal with farm health and safety. CASA is […] Read more

Columns

Farm Financial Planner: Lessening the sting of the AMT after land sales

With planning, retiring farmers can reduce the burden of the Alternative Minimum Tax

By Andrew Allentuck September 15, 2017

A couple we’ll call Herb, who is 67, and his wife, Mary, 60, farm 600 acres of grain and hay and another 500 acres of pasture in central Manitoba. They have put much of their effort into a 100 head cow-calf operation. Their two children, Suzy, 32, and Astrid, 29, are married and have no […] Read more

China to reduce pig herd amid low consumer demand

U.S. cattle ranchers slowly start to rebuild decimated herd

Manitoba Crop Report: Dry conditions across province

GFM Network News