The Van Trump Report

Month: February 2024

From High School Dropout to “Candy Kisses”… How Millions Were Made!

Milton Hershey can thank his mother Fanny for stepping up to the plate to raise him after she left his father following years of his repeated failures as he searched for the “next big thing.” With Hershey’s upbringing left in the hands of his mother, the strict Fanny instilled in her son an appreciation for …

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World Food Supply at Risk from Expanding Fungal Infections

Fungal infections pose a significant and increasing risk to global food security, according to a recent warning by scientists in the journal Nature. Worldwide, producers lose between 10% and 23% of their crops to fungal infection each year, despite the widespread use of antifungals. An additional 10%-20% is lost post-harvest. Scientists predict those figures will …

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Can a Purple Tomato Change Consumer Minds About GMOs?

Home gardeners have a new tomato variety available this year that is sure to stand out, named simply the “Purple Tomato.” The name gives away what makes the new fruit from Norfolk Plant Sciences so special. Purple Tomatoes are indeed purple, through and through, and this year,  it became the first genetically modified food crop …

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Agriculture is Losing the Fight Against Weeds

Agriculture’s war against weeds is not going great. For decades, herbicides like glyphosate were a farmer’s best friend, keeping fields weed-free and crop yields high. However, over time, some weeds developed genetic mutations that allowed them to survive even heavy herbicide applications. These survivors thrived, reproducing and spreading their resistant genes, creating a new generation …

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USDA Introduces Remote Beef-Grading Pilot That Uses Smartphones

As part of ongoing efforts to help small, independent processors and ranchers, the United States Department of Agriculture has begun a pilot program that allows users to grade beef remotely. Developed by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the agency says the “Remote Grading Pilot for Beef” (RGP Pilot) can dramatically reduce the overall cost …

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How Torc Robotics Aims to Put Fleets of AI-Powered Autonomous Trucks on the Road

After more than 15 years of developing its autonomous truck driving technology, Torc Robotics is finally laying out plans for market launch by 2027. The company has been working with major trucking companies to fine-tuning the technology that Torc CEO Peter Vaughan Schmidt says will enable fleets to transport freight “faster, safer, and at a …

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