Agriculture

A group of top athletes just bought a 104-acre Iowa farm for $5 million with their sites set on acquiring at least four more farm properties across the US. Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow and Boston Celtics veteran Blake Griffin are part of Patricof Co., an investment and education platform tailored specifically for professional athletes. …

Sports Stars Scoop Up First of Five Farms via Athlete Investment Group “Patricof” Read More »

John Deere has put itself front and center at CES the world’s largest Consumer Electronics Show to showcase and launch its latest tech and to make the case for why an agriculture and construction business is a good fit for an event that’s generally reserved for the computer tech world.  At the event last week, …

Say What… John Deere at the Consumer Electronics Show? Read More »

In order to sufficiently feed the world’s growing population by 2050, it’s estimated that a nearly +100% increase in wheat production is needed. Unfortunately, seed companies have not been able to rely on the “GMO” technologies used to boost the yields and resilience in corn, soybean, and other row crops. Instead, scientists have spent years …

New Hybrid Wheat Varieties Coming to a Field Near You Read More »

Agricultural lender CoBank is forecasting a challenging year ahead for farmers and ranchers as the world economy slows to a crawl. In the US, CoBank expects additional headwinds stemming from the tighter financial conditions, as well as political gridlock in Washington. The authors of the latest forecast, “Forces That Will Shape the U.S. Rural Economy …

CoBank’s 2023 Year Ahead: Forces That Will Shape the U.S. Rural Economy Read More »

*LAST VAN TRUMP REPORT UNTIL TUESDAY JAN 3rd, 2023 – Due to the Christmas holiday and abbreviated trading sessions we will not be issuing another morning report until Tuesday the 3rd day of January. If something dramatic happens or I make a sizeable adjustment to my portfolio or cash marketing strategy I will update paid …

One of My Favorite Christmas Stories! Read More »

Often the most important things in business are the integrity of the men and women who manage it and the quality of the products and services offered to its patrons. Many businesses have been started with these high standards in mind, but being able to execute and deliver for an extended period can be extremely …

You Don’t Stay in Business for 232 Years Without Great People, Reliable Products, and Integrity Read More »

The argument is not about whether your family celebrates with a real or fake Christmas tree but rather how you use the holidays to build a stronger bond within your family based around traditions and togetherness. Our family has always made a commitment to go with a real Christmas tree. All I can say, it’s …

The Christmas Tree Read More »

A combination of the global energy crisis and the world’s rush to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is supercharging the addition of renewable power capacity. One area that is witnessing a huge amount of expansion right now is renewable natural gas (RNG), a drop-in replacement for conventional natural gas that is produced from various biomass …

What’s in it for Farmers as Big Energy Firms Rush Into Renewable Natural Gas Read More »

The brilliant red flowers of the Euphorbia pulcherrima plant, more commonly known as “poinsettias,” are synonymous with Christmas in the US. Considered the unofficial “Christmas flower,” it may surprise you to learn that the tradition of decorating our homes with poinsettias during the holidays is a relatively recent one. In fact, it was the vision …

How a California Farm Family Made Poinsettia’s a Holiday Tradition Read More »

The USDA’s Economic Research Service has just launched the 2022 edition of “America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance”, which primarily focuses on the “family farm,” or any farm where the majority of the business is owned by the principal operator and persons related to them. USDA defines a farm as any place that, during …

America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance: 2022 Edition Read More »