The Van Trump Report

Agriculture

What Livestock Producers Need to Know About “New World Screwworm”

A nasty, nasty pest that poses a severe threat to the livestock industry has been working its way northward from South America. Eradicated from Central America, Mexico, and the U.S. over 30 years ago, the pest has made a rapid comeback in just the last couple of years. Known as “New World Screwworm” (NWS), the …

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How “EarthOptics” is Becoming a Leader in Soil Analysis

Knowing more about your soil typically means more samples, more time, and lots more money. That is unless you see soil differently. You can thank the U.S. heading into outer space to retrieve some soil samples for the fact that EarthOptics is now at the forefront of transforming soil measurement and analysis. Back in early …

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“Bushel Plus” is Providing a Better Way to Track and Reduce Harvest Loss

It’s an infuriating but accepted fact of farming that some amount of grain is going to be lost during harvest. Despite being ripe for improvement, new technologies designed to bring more efficiency to the farm had mostly overlooked this area, something that wasn’t lost on Marcel Kringe. With a background in ag engineering and agronomy, …

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“Grain Weevil” Saves Lives by Keeping Farmers Out of Bins

The “Grain Weevil” is a life-saving piece of machinery designed to keep farmers out of grain bins. The company’s mission statement, “No Boots in the Grain,” is made possible with the Grain Weevil robot that does the dirty, dangerous work of managing stored grain. Grain Weevil has been creating buzz in the ag community since …

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America’s Christmas Tree Farmers Keep Holiday Traditions Alive

The business of Christmas tree farming is like any other crop production operation, in that the opportunity to turn a profit revolves around a once-a-year harvest. Christmas tree farming carries some unique risks, too, not least of which is the seven to fifteen years between planting and maturity, an investment that can be wiped out …

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USDA Slightly Raises Net Farm Income Outlook to $140.7 Billion

USDA’s latest update to its 2024 farm income forecast provides a slightly better outlook than its previous estimate, though not by much. Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is pegged at $140.7 billion in 2024, up from $140.0 billion forecast in September. The new forecast represents a -4.1% decline from 2023 net farm …

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What Are They Growing Out There In “Kentucky”

Agriculture is one of Kentucky’s leading and most vital industries, contributing about $45.6 billion to the state’s economy each year. Of Kentucky’s 25.4 million acres, just under 50% is considered farmland. The state is an important contributor to U.S. corn and soybean production, as well as poultry, eggs, and cattle. However, the state’s farmers dedicate …

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Argentina’s Corn Acreage Set for Biggest Decline in Almost Two Decades… Maybe

Argentina’s corn production is expected to decrease sharply in the 2024/25 crop season; at least, that’s the early story we are hearing. Personally, I’m not entirely sold on the headlines, but time will tell. In case you haven’t heard, the Rosario Board of Trade estimates a -25% decrease in corn planted area, the largest relative …

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