Food prices are going up. And while you and I might not want to pay an extra $0.50 for a carton of milk, investors are seeing dollar signs. This might be a great opportunity for those of us looking to invest in the farming sector, and there are a few ways to do it.
Farming is one of the biggest industries in the world. And while, like every industry, it fluctuates, the truth is that at the end of the day we will always need food. This means that farming will always be around (though it is changing as technology improves).
While I am no expert in farming investment, I do know that the growing need for food in parts of the world like China, India, and even here in North America means great things for those looking to invest in the farming sector. If that’s you, here are a few ways you can do it (without actually opening up your own farm):
Get in on the Farmland
If you’re a budding real estate investor, you might consider investing in the apartment complex of farming: farmland rentals. That’s right, not everyone who’s a farmer actually farms land that they own—I can actually attest to this because my grandfather who used to be a farmer used to rent out portions of his land that he was unable (or at times unwilling) to farm on his own.
There are small firms and funds set up and managed by people who know what’s what (thankfully, you don’t need an agriculture degree to get in on this) that rent out farmland to those willing to put it to good use. And you can make some side cash by buying in on it.
Get Some Agricultural Stocks
Yes, you can get farm-related stocks!
Investments in agriculture can be iffy from time-to-time due to the inconsistency of nature, I mean, you’re not going to get anything from your farm stock if drought kills all of the canola plants in a year or fire runs through the cornfield. But if you’re a higher risk kind of person you might be into that.
However, if you’re looking for something a little more reliable I have two words for you: farming supplies. Farmers need tractors, tools, and fertilizers, and they might even buy grains futures in order to get a good price on feed for their animals, and there are publicly traded companies with stocks that you can purchase the provide those services. So, if the stock market is your money language, then this might be right up your alley.
Turn to Biotech
While this might not be the first place that your head goes when you think about how to invest in the farming sector, with technology improving at the rate it is and food in high demand, you can be that the biotech industry is all over that.
The biotech industry is where you find all of those fancy scientists combining a pear tree and canola seeds to come up with pear-flavored canola oil (which 100 percent does not exist as far as I know), and you can help them do just that by getting in on this industry. Especially because the startups are growing like weeds (pun intended). Who knows, you might be the proud contributor to a new breed of mushroom.
Do you invest in the farming sector? Share your experience in the comments below.
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Tae started out as a journalist before following the money into the corporate world. But it turns out that the grass isn’t always greener and now you can find her spending most of her time writing about all the things she loves. Namely, money, travel and business with a hefty dose of self-deprecating humor. She is a podcast fanatic, blogging aficionado and loves to find new ways to turn passions into cold hard cash!