The Van Trump Report

Agriculture

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 …

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

“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 …

“Trailblazer Project” Signals New Era for Midwest Agriculture Read More »

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 …

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

INTERESTING: Where Have All the Sheep Ranches Gone?… Trying to Rebuild the US Wool Industry

As the cool temperatures start settling in, we will all be reaching for cozy sweaters to fight the chill. Once upon a time, odds were very high that any given sweater in an American’s closet was made with 100% US-produced wool. Those days are long gone and it’s nearly taken the US wool and sheep …

INTERESTING: Where Have All the Sheep Ranches Gone?… Trying to Rebuild the US Wool Industry Read More »

150 BPA Wheat? A Hidden Gene Has Potential to Triple Yields

Researchers at the University of Maryland have identified the gene responsible for a rare and potentially transformative trait: the ability of some wheat plants to produce three ovaries per flower instead of the usual one. Each ovary can mature into a seed, meaning WUS-D1 activation could potentially triple wheat yields. The study appeared on October …

150 BPA Wheat? A Hidden Gene Has Potential to Triple Yields Read More »