Agriculture

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 »

From its humble beginnings in a small brewery in the heart of Amsterdam to the world’s third-largest beer brewer with breweries in some 70 countries around the world, Heineken’s 158-year history is an amazing story. Founder, Gerard Adriaan Heineken was born in Amsterdam in 1841. Gerard grew up with his brother and two sisters at …

The Heineken Story… and 4 Main Ingredients for Success Read More »

Fossil fuel is often considered one of the main threats to the environment because of the CO2 released into the atmosphere, pushing greenhouse gas mitigation to the forefront of challenges facing the world. Interestingly, the world’s first commercial-scale CO2-to-methanol plant has started production in Anyang, Henan Province, China, where the cutting-edge facility is the first …

“Green Methanol” is Starting to Gain More Traction Read More »

The La Niña phenomenon that has fueled flooding, drought, and other weather extremes is set to stick around for a third winter but could fade away as early as this upcoming Spring. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration says there is a 71% chance the status will switch to neutral status sometime between February and …

End of the La Niña Weather Pattern Could Mean a More Typical US Planting Season Read More »