The Van Trump Report

Agriculture

World’s First Successful Transplant of Gene-Edited Pig Kidney Into 62-Year Old Man

Doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital recently performed a life-saving transplant on a 62-year-old man using a genetically edited pig kidney developed by biotech startup “eGenesis.” While it’s not the first attempt to use organs from pigs in humans, it is the first pig kidney transplanted into a living human. Surgeons say that many unknowns remain …

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US Agriculture Just Got the Greenlight for “Drone-Swarm” Farming

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently issued a landmark decision that clears the way for “drone-swarm” farming. Hylio, a Texas-based drone manufacturer, successfully applied for an exemption from the FAA to allow fleets of drones weighing 55 pounds or more to fly together.Meaning farmers can now use fleets of drones that in some cases …

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Scientists and Policymakers are Warming Up to Geoengineering

Tweaking the chemical composition of Earth’s oceans and atmosphere to slow global warming is an idea that most scientists have resisted due to concerns about the unintended consequences. Nonetheless, more researchers and governments are seriously considering possible applications as they seek ways to mitigate increasing weather disasters and other symptoms of a warming planet.   …

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As Dairy Cattle Fall Victim, Stakes are Rising in the Fight Against Avian Influenza

A lot of questions, as well as alarms, are being raised as the ag world digests news that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), aka “bird flu,” is responsible for a mysterious illness afflicting dairy cows. According to the USDA, officials suspect the illness among primarily older dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico. Officials …

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FAPRI Projects Lower Prices, Tight Margins for 2024

As farmers are well aware, ag commodity prices have plunged from the peak levels reached in 2022. Unfortunately, new projections University of Missouri’s Food and Ag Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) indicate that the downward slide may continue though 2024 and possibly beyond. FAPRI’s recently released baseline projections for agricultural and biofuel markets shows lower commodity …

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Green Methanol Companies Tout Technology as Viable Alternative to Carbon Capture Pipelines

As carbon dioxide pipelines continue to hit roadblocks, green methanol company “CapCO2 Solutions” is touting its technology as an alternative that can help the ethanol industry capture the maximum tax incentives provided by the US government.  Rather than relying on controversial pipelines to carry the captured carbon out of state, CapCO2’s technology can capture and …

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IMPORTANT – NEW Animal Health Situation Developing in Some US Dairy Cattle 

There is a developing health story happening with US Dairy Cattle. From what I understand, some dairy’s are starting to report sick cattle. Symptoms seem to be a fever, feed intake down -20% to -30%, and a drop in milk production. It sounds like the younger cattle aren’t being impacted as much as the older …

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