The Van Trump Report

Month: November 2025

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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Looking Back at How Much Our Knowledge of “Soil Health” Has Changed

On this day in 1933, the first giant dust storm, dubbed “The Great Black Blizzard,” began rolling across the Great Plains. Most Americans are familiar with the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s, but the story of how we got there is rather interesting. It really begins back in the ealry-1800s when explorer and map-maker …

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“Trailblazer Project” Signals New Era for Midwest Agriculture

The recent launch of Nebraska’s Trailblazer Pipeline marks a new chapter for the state’s agricultural industry, especially for corn growers whose operations are closely tied to ethanol and biofuel production. The $1.5 billion project, led by Tallgrass Energy, converted a 392-mile natural gas pipeline into a major carbon dioxide network. This line now carries CO₂ …

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How Global Shifts Have Redefined the Cotton Trade… Buy More US Cotton!

The global cotton market is experiencing notable volatility and structural change as 2025 draws to a close, with developments abroad shaping the outlook for U.S. growers, shippers, and merchants. Internationally, a combination of high global stockpiles and subdued demand from major textile-consuming economies has kept cotton prices under sustained pressure and near multi-year lows. This …

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