The Van Trump Report

Month: November 2025

Thanksgiving Break

***LIMITED SERVICE – The staff and I will be taking off for the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be no report on either Thursday or Friday. Full-coverage will resume Monday morning. From our families to yours, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving! 

Are You Sure You Are Looking at “Opportunities” Correctly… I Know I Wasn’t When I Was Younger

I’ve been given several big breaks in life, and I am forever grateful. Sadly, too often, many people miss the helping hands or squander the opportunity because they simply aren’t looking from the right perspective or are too busy wallowing in their own self-pity.  I’ve often been criticized in my business practices for looking for …

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China’s Pork Producers May Be Battling “Getah Virus”

For several years now, China’s pig farmers have faced an increasing threat from a mosquito-borne disease known as “Getah Virus.” Also known as “GETV,” outbreaks in Chinese swine go back to at least 2017, with sporadic outbreaks in years since, though there is little talk of the issue by officials or state-run media.   GETV …

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Grains of Hope: How One Man Saved Families and Founded Honeyville

Honeyville, Inc. is a Utah-based food company with a legacy stretching back to 1951, rooted deeply in entrepreneurship, compassion, and a commitment to service. Its story is a remarkable one, blending the tragedy of World War II, the resilience of its founder, and the enduring success of an American business that continues to thrive today, …

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Scientists Find Keys to Unlocking Nitrogen Fixing in Grain Crops

Soybeans are among a group of plants that can essentially make their own nitrogen from air. A symbiotic relationship with bacteria enables this almost magical trait and scientists think it could be turned on in other plants, including corn and wheat.   For those not familiar with nitrogen “fixing,” it is the process of converting nitrogen …

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How “Beef-On-Diary” Is Fundamentally Shifting The Game

The number of dairy cows in the US has ballooned this year, with inventory more than +200,000 head higher than last year. According to insiders, the increase is tied to the growing trend of “beef-on-dairy” cattle, which now represent between 12%-15% of all fed cattle slaughtered in the US. For those not familiar, “beef-on-dairy” refers …

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Fat, Fiber, Frozen, and Female Farmers Driving 2026 Food Trends

Whole Foods Market’s top food trend predictions for 2026 revolve around a return to “ancestral” ingredients, a fiber boom, elevated convenience, and a celebration of women farmers—all designed to fit the shifting demands of health-conscious and innovative eaters. For those not familiar, the annual report is compiled by the “Whole Foods Market Trends Council” – …

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This Multi-Billion Dollar Food Business Keeps Family at Its Core

Robert Rich Sr. was born into a dairy family but built his fortune on an unlikely product – the first non-dairy whipped topping. Rich’s invention was inspired by milk shortages during WWII and won him a place in the National Frozen Food Industry Hall of Fame. His invention was also dismissed by his father and …

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Land O’Lakes and Microsoft Partner on AI-Powered Farm Assistant “Oz”

Land O’Lakes and Microsoft, two organizations with very different backgrounds, have been working together to address some of agriculture’s chronic headaches—tight profit margins, unpredictable growing conditions, and a workforce that struggles with high turnover. Their latest initiative, a digital assistant called “Oz”, is less about flashy disruption and more about the realities of getting information …

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