Monthly Archives: September 2021

There are few things more stressful than owning livestock while knowing available feed and water may run out over a prairie winter.

Drought hurts grain producers pocketbooks but when feed is in short supply or of poor quality, its about more than money for stock growers.

Insurance, risk management tools, bank loans and a few dollars diverted from that account you hoped youd leave for the kids might pull you through the toughest times on the farm. Dreams can be delayed but chore time comes every day.

Herds are developed over years of selection and care, so its much more than a business decision to reduce stock when resources run out. Worse, avoiding the hard choices means short-rationing the herd, feeding straw and pricey proteins.

When the cold calls for calories, its no place producers want to find themselves or their animals. No day is colder than when the snow blows through an empty feedyard.

Most droughts are regional and short-lived. This one was widespread and lasted through the forage growing season.

It was so large that the American treasury was enlisted to help U.S. ranchers snatch up forages in Canada. The U.S. government is paying 60 to 90 percent of US$6.60 per mile for shipping hay distances of up to 1,000 miles. Last week the program was extended from Idaho to Wisconsin. American producers are paying $250 to $300 per ton for hay, competing with Canadian ranchers for short supplies.

Late autumn rains failed to wash away the droughts damage to pastures for many Canadian producers. With only a few months of feed on hand, at best, they face critical culling before freeze-up.

Now some livestock producers are seeing a bit of hope on the highways horizon. Its coming in the form of eastern Canadian hay.

The amounts provided might not be enough to carry all the cows until spring grass sprouts but loads of hay from Eastern Canada are arriving in the West. Tandem programs, both called Hay West, are shifting forages from Central Canada to the Prairies at more affordable prices.

The generosity of eastern farmers and transport companies echoes that of western farmers who shipped hay eastward in another troublesome year, 2012, and of eastern farmers who shared hay with the West in 2002.

In all those cases, farmers gave a hand to their neighbours 3,000 kilometres up the road. While federal politics this month highlighted divisions within this country, farmers showed the shared concerns and generosity possible within the agricultural community. They can and do pay it forward when times are tough.

The Canadian Federation of Agricultures Hay West program finds surplus forage in Central Canada and puts it on west-bound trucks. The feed is available for 10 cents per pound, with costs underwritten by the federal government.

The other Hay West program is organized by the Mennonite Disaster Service. Its strong ties to agricultural producers make it well-positioned to provide affordable forage. They plan for 50 truckloads.

Neither program is large enough to replace what has been or will be lost from 2021s dry times, but it will make some producers decisions easier. Both Hay West programs lighten the burdens of feeling isolated or alone when the snow blows through the feedyard.

And it might hydrate a few eyes in the men and women who stand at the end of long, dusty lanes when the hay-bearing trucks arrive.

Karen Briere, Bruce Dyck, Barb Glen and Mike Raine collaborate in the writing of Western Producer editorials.

For more content related to drought management visit The Dry Times, where you can find a collection of stories from our family of publications as well as links to external resources to support your decisions through these difficult times.

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Force of the Golden Rule appears through Hay West - Western Producer

Rudy Coggins

School days.

School days.

Dear old golden rule days.

Readin and ritin and rithmetic.

Taught to the tune of a hickory stick.

Those catchy lyrics why I dont know danced through my brain while browsing through old editions of the Tribune at Wayne County Public Library.

It certainly sparked a walk down Nostalgia Lane.

Back in the day, we didnt have the block system in school.

We studied the same subjects, in a seven-period day, for the entire year. Although retention of the material escaped me on occasion, the method of how it was taught is certainly different than today, too.

Im not saying it doesnt happen now, but teachers then worked diligently to make sure we understood what we were being taught. There was no race to complete the material in record time in hopes that students were prepared for what are now EOGs (end of grade) or EOCs (end of course) testing.

I had one teacher, in both middle and high school, who taught biology. She had two chalkboards full of information presented in outline form. It was an effective way to teach material and believe me, it was a great study guide for her tests and final exams.

During the elementary years, teachers allotted time for homework during class. We learned about study halls when we reached high-school age.

Many a morning I did last-minute homework or studied for a test while woofing down a bowl of cereal at breakfast. I did the same thing while riding the activity bus either to and/or from an away game.

To be truthful, the best times were my elementary years.

Each year, mom and I searched for the ultimate lunch box. I can remember carrying the Lone Ranger, some super hero or Scooby-Doo to school each day. I couldnt wait to pop it open, gobble down my sandwich and chips and drink from a plastic thermos.

Im sure many of you remember those.

Usually, the thermos contained sweet tea. Sometimes the ice melted, sometimes it didnt.

They werent very big, so if mom added a lot of ice, there was little tea to drink.

Then again, Im sure my teachers didnt mind. The lack of a huge sugar rush prevented me from bouncing off the walls like a ping-pong ball during the afternoon.

As a kid at heart, I scan Amazon to see if vintage lunch boxes still exist. Ive found Pac-Man, Snoopy, Star Wars, Rosie the Riveter, Aquarius and Batman. But no Superman, no Superfriends and no Wonder Woman.

Now we have insulated lunch bags.

Im not a fan of them.

Id rather carry a tin lunch box ANY day. It draws attention and brings back some awesome memories.

At least it does for me.

Rudy Coggins is assistant editor of the Mount Olive Tribune. He can be reached at rcoggins@mountolivetribune.com.

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Catchy lyrics and lunch boxes - Mount Olive Tribune

You may feel tempted to take part in the action when stocks soar, but financial experts recommend taking a pause before jumping in.

When it comes to investing in seemingly "hot" stocks, it can be easy to get caught up in the hype and the fear of missing out. But it's important to truly understand how difficult it is to successfully stock-pick. It's risky and generally not a reliable way to build wealth.

That's why "there's some standard principles that one should obey before considering investing in individual stocks or any one individual particular investment," Douglas Boneparth, certified financial planner and president of Bone Fide Wealth, tells CNBC Make It.

If you're willing to take the risk, here are three questions to ask yourself before buying any stock.

First, assess whether you're spending an amount you can afford to lose. Again, remember that financial expertswarn against trying to pick stocksand time the market. It's extremely difficult to outperform the market, and even harder to do so consistently over time.

"One of the golden rules here is never invest more than you're willing to lose," Boneparth says. "Be mindful of how much you're putting at risk."

While you may dedicate some funds to individual stocks, consider putting the bulk of your investments in index funds, which provide automatic diversification and aretypically low cost. Index fundstend to outperform actively managed fundsas well.

Take it from legendary investor Warren Buffett: "Consistently buy an S&P 500 low-cost index fund," hetold CNBC in 2017. "I think it's the thing that makes the most sense practically all of the time."

Second, do your due diligence on the business you're buying stock in.

"It's one thing to just like a stock or because you use it and you believe in it," Boneparth says. "It's another thing to actually take a minute and understand the business that you're investing in."

Before parting with your money, look up the business' annual reports and research analysts' reports. You can also listen to the company's earnings calls. It's important to educate yourself on things like how the business makes its money, how much cash it has on hand, what its margins are and who its competitors in the space are.

Though "it gets very financial, this is a great way to understand what is actually taking place with the business," Boneparth says.

Even Buffett does his homework before investing. He looks for long-term value and aims to understand the companies he invests in. "Intelligent investing is not complex, though that is far from saying that it is easy,"Buffett wrote in his 1996 annual shareholders' letter. "What an investor needs is the ability to correctly evaluate selected businesses."

Don't just invest in what seems popular at the time, such as so-called meme stocks, likeGameStopandAMC Entertainment, without doing your own research.

"Just because everybody else is doing it, it doesn't mean it's right for you," Boneparth says. "Just because you saw a rather successful short squeeze, don't confuse the novelty of that situation with something that will repeat itself over and over again."

Last, consider how investing in a particular stock relates to your overall investment strategy.

"You don't want to risk more than you're willing to lose, but also, understand how much you're putting in individual stocks or an individual stock relative to the main part of your investment portfolio," Boneparth says.

While this allocation depends on an investor's personal circumstances and can vary, a general rule of thumb is to allocate 5% to 10% of your portfolio to individual stocks or other alternative asset classes, Boneparth says. The rest should consist of less risky investments, likepassive index funds that trackthe S&P 500.

"Whether that's individual stock picking or other alternative asset classes that you're researching or feel like there's an opportunity to make money in, [it's] an amount that's not going to blow up your entire strategy if you're wrong, and might actually add a little performance if you're right," Boneparth says.

However, investors should remain very disciplined in regard to the majority of their portfolio.

"Perhaps buy and hold and let the market do its thing," Boneparth says. "Just be mindful."

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Don't miss: Crypto is 'the future of finance': Why Gen Z is ditching traditional investmentsbut with caution

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Before you invest in the stock market, answer these 3 questions - CNBC

For investors who are sitting on cash, watching the S&P 500 index move higher this year with only minor corrections has been a frustrating experience. Missing out on big returns can be stressful, especially when money earns next to nothing in the bank.

But it's important to remember this golden rule of investing: Time in the market is more important than timing the market. The precise moment that an investment is made becomes less important with a long-term time horizon.

You can start your journey with these two stocks that could grow fivefold by 2030, and they can be bought right now.

Image source: Getty Images.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that will play a pivotal role in the future of business. It can help to complete complex tasks that weren't previously possible with human input, and fintech company Upstart Holdings (NASDAQ:UPST) is applying it to the lending process.

Where most banks assess a borrower's income and assets to determine creditworthiness, Upstart's AI platform reviews thousands of data points, including where the borrower went to school, their level of education, and their job history.

The company originates loans for banks in exchange for a fee, and it also licenses its platform to banks so they can integrate it into their existing application processes. The alternative metrics measured by Upstart's AI result in 173% more money loaned out for the same level of risk, and that's an attractive proposition for financiers.

Second-quarter loan originations just grew 1,605% to $2.79 billion, prompting Upstart to materially increase its 2021 revenue guidance from $600 million to $750 million.

Metric

2017

2021 (Estimate)

CAGR

Revenue

$57 million

$750 million

90%

Data source: Company filings.

The company would have to grow revenues at a compound rate of 19% per year until 2030 for its stock price to rise fivefold, assuming its current price-to-sales ratio remained exactly the same. But as evidenced by the table above, it has plenty of room for multiple contraction with a much-faster 90% compound annual growth rate ovr the past four years.

There's even significant upside potential to Upstart's financial performance. It just entered the automotive lending market, which is worth over $1.1 trillion, so considering that the company only originated $2.79 billion worth of loans in the most recent quarter, there is an enormous growth opportunity ahead.

To speed up its expansion in this new market, it acquired software company Prodigy. It develops sales tools for car dealerships, and Upstart is integrating with that platform for the opportunity to finance some of its $1 billion in quarterly vehicle sales.

Image source: Getty Images.

Trillion-dollar social media giant Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) is embarking on a new mission to own the next generation of social technology. CEO Mark Zuckerberg wants to build a digital world dubbed the metaverse, with user-controlled avatars, virtual experiences, and even its own economy.

But back to present reality: Even in its current form, Facebook is growing enough to turn $200,000 into $1 million by 2030. The company has bucked the trend of past technology behemoths, in that it has remained nimble enough to drive innovation and stave off the irrelevance that befell them -- few people under the age of 30 remember MySpace, after all.

It has achieved this through landmark acquisitions of platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp, and also by consistently freshening up its flagship social network, Facebook. Over 2.9 billion people engage with the company's ecosystem each month, and that's not easy for any new player to disrupt.

It's in the driver's seat to introduce new initiatives like the metaverse, which might one day have the potential to truly dwarf the company's present financial performance.

Metric

2011

2021 (Estimate)

CAGR

Revenue

$3.7 billion

$119.4 billion

41%

Earnings per share

$0.46

$14.14

40%

Data source: Company filings. 2021 estimates from Yahoo! Finance.

Facebook's stock has delivered returns exceeding 800% since its debut as a publicly traded company in 2012, and there's a legitimate argument that it's still cheap right now. At 25 times projected 2021 earnings, it trades at a steep discount to the Nasdaq 100 index, which Facebook is a part of, at 36 times.

With a decade-long track record of growing revenue and earnings by over 40% compounded annually, Facebook remains a safe bet to pull off fivefold growth over the next 10 years. Even if its earnings growth were cut in half, and its price-to-earnings ratio of 25 remained the same, it would still get there.

But additional upside for Facebook could come from new projects like the metaverse, and investors are in great hands with this company when it comes to innovation.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

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2 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Turn $200,000 Into $1 Million by 2030 - Motley Fool

Spraks flew in the preflight stare down between Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant as both came to blows during the press conference at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The fight may be a over a month away, but the bad blood between the two spilled over on stage after Alvarez claimed that Plant called him a mother-er. Alvarez responded with a push to the chest of Plant, and the two then traded blows as cameramen and other members of the media watched on.

Trash talk is a part of the sport of boxing especially in the lead up when promoters and boxers are trying to sell a fight, but Alvarez said Plant broke the golden rule, no mama talk. He started talking a lot of things," Alvarez said. "I answered. Then the bad thing he said, 'You motherf---er.' You can say whatever you want to me, but not to my mother. My mother is not here."

Both were left bleeding after the on-stage scuffle, and the two would have to be separated again before the press conference came to a close.

Canelo said his boxing instincts kicked in after Plant threw the first punch, "He landed first," Alvarez said. "And then I don't know how, but I responded quickly. I don't know how. I just do it."

Plant used some past history to defend himself, and the use of the term that offended Alvarez. He recalled the Mexican fighter using the same term in the post fight press conference with Demetirus Andrade. "Wasn't he saying that?" Plant said. "But now all of a sudden those words mean something completely different? ... Now all of a sudden I'm talking about his mama? C'mon man. That don't even make no sense."

Alvarez is widely considered the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport at the moment, and the hard hitting right hander got a clean shot on his Nov. 6th opponent. Plant claims the cut is more from the sunglasses he was wearing rather than the Canelo connection.

"It's a fight," Plant said of the skirmish. "If he's gonna turn it into a fight, then that's what it is. I'm not no punk. You don't just get to stand up here and do whatever you want to me. Maybe the rest of these guys, you can just come up here and they're all scared of you. ... That's not how this works."

Much of the bad blood comes from Plants accusations of the use performance-enhancing drugs in his oppnents camp after Alvarezs training partner Oscar Valdez tested positive for a banned substance. Valdez was not suspended, but Canelo didnt share the same luck in 2018 when he was suspended six months for taking a banned substance.

"Does that stem from insecurity? Because taking illegal substances, that doesn't stem from confidence. That stems from fear. Plant continued, "He may be upset with me, but there's no need to be upset with me. He should be upset with himself. There's nothing I've done. These aren't by my rules and my standards."

Plant is undefeated in his professional career at 21-0 with 12 KOs, while Alvarez is 56-1-2 with 38 KOs.

The two are scheduled to fight for the unified super middleweight title in Las Vegas on November 6th.

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Canelo and Plant come to blows in pre-fight presser - AS English

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The community continues to rally behind a man and his dog who many believe were unfairly targeted by local city parking meter enforcement, leading to a violent incident with El Paso Police Department officers that attorneys are now looking into for potential excessive use of force.

Last Friday, Manel Shorty Luna, who is homeless and disabled, and his dog Ojos, who is Shortys registered service animal, were allegedly assaulted by EPPD in downtown El Paso after parking meter officials reported them for dancing on East Mills Ave.

The law office of Wyatt and Underwood, located downtown, caught wind of the incident and offered to help Shorty and Ojos.

My initial concerns are number one, why were they interacting with him in the first place? Underwood tells KTSM. My understanding is that there were some parking enforcement employees, also known as the Segway Karens in certain circles of my job, who had interacted with him about all things in the world dancing in the street, he adds.

Shorty told KTSM on Friday that the melee started because he started dancing to a song that was being played by a downtown business through its outside speaker. He recognized the song from a popular YouTube video and felt inspired to recreate the choreography.

Underwood says hes in the research gathering phase and is collecting eyewitness testimony and video footage.

As of Tuesday morning, Underwood says the El Paso County District Attorneys Office did not have any record of Shortys arrest, but that charges were filed late Tuesday morning.

The EPPD sent a statement over the weekend confirming it is aware of the incident and reviewing. KTSM also reached out to the City of El Paso regarding parking enforcement officials; this story will be updated once more information is available.

Questions remain regarding the protocols and jurisdiction that city parking enforcement has, especially when it comes to someone without a vehicle.

I dont know why a parking person would have the authority to tell you to get out of a public place when youre not impeding traffic, which I think all these business owners are going to agree that he was in no way impeding traffic at all, says Underwood.

Additionally, eyewitness video and photographs show that Shorty was compliant with EPPD.

A photo sent to KTSM shows Shorty on his knees with his hands above his head in surrender that was taken moments before more officers arrived and the violent incident occurred.

Underwood says theres no need for that, especially by City personnel.

We do need the police; we support the police but we also support the police doing their job and literally not kicking people when theyre down, he says.

The downtown business community says its fed up with what it claims is impunity by the parking enforcement officials who are backed up by EPPD.

On Tuesday, a petition was created asking for signatures in support of Defunding Parking Enforcement.

The incident that started with city employees being bothered by someone dancing in the street is quickly turning into a larger issue regarding the conduct of EPPD and other city employees as regards conduct in their official capacities, treatment of homeless and disabled population, and ultimately the Golden Rule.

As far as I know, we dont live in the movie Footloose, says Underwood.

Theres no law that prohibits you from dancing in the street, especially by yourself, he adds. The fact that you have parking attendants, who write parking tickets, and are harassing a man who doesnt have a vehicle, is kind of silly.

For more information on Shorty and Ojos, click here; for our complete coverage of downtown El Paso, click here.

For local and breaking news, sports, weather alerts, video and more, download the FREE KTSM 9 News App from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

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Theres no law that prohibits you from dancing: Attorney weighs-in on viral video of homeless man allegedly assaulted by EPPD - KTSM 9 News

You may have the correct order of skincare products memorized (if not, here's a guide), but when it comes to hair care, things get even more confusing. Sure, we all know conditioner comes after shampoo, but what about hair serums and oils? Heat protectants? Hair masks?

The truth is that our post-shower hair care products usually end up looking more like a random experiment than a routine, but being a mixologist with your styling arsenal isn't doing your hair any favors. Just like you shouldn't apply face oils before serums, the wrong order can make your products not as effective, or worse, damage your strands. "Knowing the correct order of application for your hair is just as important as your skincare routine," agrees Michelle Lee, professional hairstylist, co-owner of Salon Eva Michelle in Boston, Mass., and Sebastian Professional Top Artist. "Products penetrate differently in your hair, and the right order ensures proper use and benefits."

While every hair type is unique, there are some general rules that will allow you to get the best results. You may have heard the golden rule of layering your skincare: lightest to heaviest. When it comes to hair care, Lee says the guideline is FSF: foundation (shampoo, conditioner, masks), structure (nourishing leave-ins and protectants), and finish (styling products and texture sprays).

With that in mind, we asked Lee to share the best order for layering hair care products. Whether you use one, three, or all of these products at a time, the order of application will remain the same. (Note: This order starts with shampooing; if you want to pre-poo, feel free to apply those treatments first.)

This one might be a given, but something to keep in mind: Your styling process begins in the shower. In other words, you want to make sure you're using a shampoo and conditioner that is suited for your hair type. Whether your hair type is fine and straight, thick and curly, kinky or color-treated, the right shampoo and conditioner can highlight the natural texture of your hair and give you the boost it needs to make styling a little less problematic. Opt for something made for color-treated hair (read: no parabens and less surfactants) if you have dyed hair, hydrating if you have damaged hair, and volumizing if you have limp hair. And whatever you use, Lee recommends rotating in a clarifying shampoo at least once a week to break up the styling residue lingering on your scalp.

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Now is the time to whip out any rinse-off hair masks or treatments. Lee says to comb it through the hair with your fingers (avoiding the scalp) and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing out. Although hair masks can sub in for your regular conditioner, you can opt to double up if your hair is especially dry or damagedjust be cautious not to go overboard since excess application can weigh down your strands.

Your styling products won't absorb well over knots and tangles, so using a detangler as soon as you get out of the shower (and before you apply anything else) is key. In addition to evening out the porosity of the hair so your wet products go on more evenly, this will also help eliminate potential breakage that can happen while styling. Just remember to keep your detangler on the middle to ends of your hair to ensure it doesn't leave your scalp looking greasy.

After making sure your strands are tangle-free, it's best to kick off with a hydrating leave-in conditioner. You'll want to apply this while the hair is still wetnot only is your hair more receptive when damp (your cuticles are open), it will also protect your strands from frizzing out as it dries.

Hair oils are a bit more complicated since they can be used on wet or dry hair. If you don't plan on heat styling, this is the time to apply them since your hair will soak in the ingredients best. However, if you plan on heat-styling, hold off. Applying it now will essentially fry your strands, leaving it more susceptible to damage. Lee also notes that not all oils are the same: "Certain oils are for blow-drying and others are for after. When you're not sure, make sure to look at the directions."

Next up is volume, if you want it, of course. For the best results, apply a pump of volumizing mousse directly into your roots, scrunching as you go for added lift and body. Make sure to keep the product on the roots and mid-lengths of your hair, avoiding the ends.

If you plan to use any hot tools, i.e., your blow-dryer, curling iron, or flat iron, it's crucial to apply a heat protectant now to prevent heat damage. Spray the product all over your hair, then brush through with a fine-toothed comb to ensure the product is evenly distributed from root to tip. After that, you can proceed with heat-styling your hair as desired.

Once you finish styling your hair, you can add a styling cream and/or oil to provide shine, bring out hair texture, and eliminate unwanted frizz. A little goes a long way with oils, so just a smidge should do the trick.

Lastly, finish off your hair care routine with a beach or texture spray to lock in your look. Whether you're going for grit or shine, never use a hairspray on damp hair as it can cause stickiness and clumping. And since going overboard will ruin all the hard work you just did, start with a smaller amount on 100 percent dry hair and add slowly as needed.

The rest is here:

The Correct Order to Apply Hair Products for the Best Results - Yahoo Lifestyle