The Van Trump Report

Agriculture

Scientists Develop New Techniques for Growing Crops on the Moon

If humans have any chance at all of living on the Moon or colonizing other planets, we’ve got to first find a way to grow food in those alien environments. The first stumbling block to accomplishing this is soil, arguably one of the most important elements to growing healthy crops. Recently, scientists have had some …

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Most US Farms and Ranches are Still “Family-Owned”…and Debt Free!

In the 2023 edition of “America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance,” the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) finds that the majority of farming and ranching operations in the US during 2022 were still family-owned. What’s more, only around 26% had any debt. A “family farm” is of course one where the majority of the …

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How Red Sea Hazards are Impacting Global Trade… Including Agriculture

Global supply chains are once again being thrown into chaos as attacks by Houthi rebels on vessels in the Red Sea cause shippers to opt for longer and more expensive routes. The narrow waterway provides access to the Suez Canal, through which as much as 15% of global trade passes, including around 8% of global …

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USDA Approves “Intelligent” Corn Plants That Can Change Color

In any given growing season, the list of potential yield-damaging threats to a corn crop is a long one. It can also sometimes be difficult and expensive to diagnose what’s ailing a crop and many a grower that’s likely wished their plants could just tell them what was wrong. That is exactly the idea behind …

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How a California Farm Family Made Poinsettia’s a Holiday Tradition

The brilliant red flowers of the Euphorbia pulcherrima plant, more commonly known as “poinsettias,” are synonymous with Christmas in the US. Considered the unofficial “Christmas flower,” it may surprise you to learn that the tradition of decorating our homes with poinsettias during the holidays is a relatively recent one. In fact, it was the vision …

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It Was a Farmer that Started “Santa School”

Charles W. Howard was a farmer that couldn’t contain his displeasure with seeing Santas in frayed suits, cheap beards, and who also had inadequate knowledge of reindeer. So in 1937, he determined to improve the problems by starting a “Santa School”. History reports the first class consisted of just three men. Eventually, however, Howard would …

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What’s Driving Christmas Tree Inflation…and Fun Facts About Our Favorite Evergreen!

Real Christmas trees have been easier to find this year but prices are nonetheless about +10% to +15% higher in most parts of the country. The American Christmas Tree Association predicted earlier this year that consumers could expect to pay an average of $80-$100 for a real Christmas tree this year. Of course, depending on …

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