The Van Trump Report

Agriculture

Agriculture is Losing the Fight Against Weeds

Agriculture’s war against weeds is not going great. For decades, herbicides like glyphosate were a farmer’s best friend, keeping fields weed-free and crop yields high. However, over time, some weeds developed genetic mutations that allowed them to survive even heavy herbicide applications. These survivors thrived, reproducing and spreading their resistant genes, creating a new generation …

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USDA Introduces Remote Beef-Grading Pilot That Uses Smartphones

As part of ongoing efforts to help small, independent processors and ranchers, the United States Department of Agriculture has begun a pilot program that allows users to grade beef remotely. Developed by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the agency says the “Remote Grading Pilot for Beef” (RGP Pilot) can dramatically reduce the overall cost …

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How Torc Robotics Aims to Put Fleets of AI-Powered Autonomous Trucks on the Road

After more than 15 years of developing its autonomous truck driving technology, Torc Robotics is finally laying out plans for market launch by 2027. The company has been working with major trucking companies to fine-tuning the technology that Torc CEO Peter Vaughan Schmidt says will enable fleets to transport freight “faster, safer, and at a …

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Farmers in Europe are Angry…and It’s Spreading

Anger among European farmers has been boiling over for months now, spreading from Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania, to the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Ireland. Protests in the form of tractor rallies, road blockades, cow marches, and scarecrow standoffs have been staged against what farmers view as excessive bureaucracy and unfair competition from Ukraine that has …

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“LanzaJet” Opens World’s First Ethanol-to-SAF Plant in Georgia

Soperton, Georgia, is now home to the world’s very first ethanol-to-sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility. The new LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels facility, which celebrated its grand opening on January 24, is projected to produce 10 million gallons of SAF and renewable diesel per year from ethanol. According to LanzaJet, the technology used at the …

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Limited Supply of Ag Land for Sale Should Help Market Remain Resilient in 2024

Farmers National Company (FNC) sees 2023’s sharp increase in land values slowing in this year but expects the values built over the last three years will be maintained. That’s despite increasing pressure from multiple factors, including declining commodity markets, rising interest rates, and inflation. FNC says despite the negative pressures, buyer demand remains strong for …

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NEW “Feedstuff Finder” Tool Simplifies Buying and Selling for US Producers

Livestock producers can often find themselves scrambling to locate the feed they need, when they need it. The problem has been particularly acute in drought stricken regions and led a team at University of Missouri Extension to develop an online solution. The new tool, called “Feedstuff Finder,” lets farmers and ranchers find or list hay and …

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