"anyone have thoughts on platinum or palladium??"

If you have any don't park it on the street. Those catalytic converter theeve's are everywhere!

As investments go a cow will give you 100% return annually assuming she doesn't have twins. A hog will give you an annual 1200% return if you can stand the smell of money.

On the flip side I have never seen a John Deere reproduce

With fertilizer doubling in price this year I can tell you we would produce 170 bushel per acre corn yield with nothing but the starter fertilizer and manure from a 70 cow dairy operation.