Talk Dirt to Me

This week on Talk Dirt To Me, we're answering your questions, taking our lumps, and diving headfirst into some of agriculture's biggest debates. One listener absolutely roasts us before asking the question that sparked one of our favorite discussions: Is ethanol actually a good thing? As a row crop farmer, Logan shares his honest perspective on ethanol, corn demand, consumer choice, and whether the benefits are as clear-cut as many people claim. We also tackle a social media comment suggesting the United States should simply eliminate row crop farming. What would actually happen if we stopped growing corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton? We break down the real-world consequences, from the economic impact and millions of jobs tied to agriculture to livestock feed, land use, food production, and what it would mean for American farmers and consumers. As always, we've got plenty of listener Q&A covering topics from around the farm, plus another listener-submitted Top Two, where we tell the stories of the biggest times our parents caught us being bad as kids. Let's just say...we earned a few whoopings. We wrap things up with our Made in the USA Product of the Week featuring Dr. Squatch Pine Tar Soap, one of our favorite American-made products. If you enjoy honest conversations about farming, agriculture, rural life, ethanol, row crop farming, cattle, food production, and the realities of modern agriculture, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with a friend. Go check out Agzaga! It is the ultimate online farm store. American owned and operated. Go check out their site and get what you need. Be sure to use the code TalkDirt20 to get $20 off your order of $50 or more! Visit them at: https://agzaga.com 👉 Listen now, hit subscribe, and leave Logan and Bobby Lee a 5-star review to keep the dirt talk rolling every week! Follow us on social media: Talk Dirt to Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkdirtpodcast/ Bobby Lee: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hurricane%20creek%20farms Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hurricanecreekfarm/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/HurricaneCreekFarms Logan: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/LHFarmsTN Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/lo.hanks/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqYpTjKQtOMABFOc2Aw3_Ow

This week on Talk Dirt To Me, we're turning the microphone over to you for a listener Q&A episode packed with agriculture, cattle, farming, and plenty of rural common sense. We continue to dive into one of the biggest livestock stories in the country right now, the New World Screwworm outbreak. Who is really responsible for screwworm making its way back toward the United States? How did it spread across multiple regions, and what could it mean for cattle producers, and beef prices moving forward? We break down the facts, the finger-pointing, and what farmers and ranchers need to know. We also answer listener questions about crop rotation, including how Logan structures his corn and soybean acres, why rotation matters, and how those decisions impact profitability on the farm. Plus, we discuss whether cattle can safely eat whole kernel corn, feeding considerations for beef producers, and several other listener-submitted questions covering life in agriculture. As always, we wrap things up with our Top 3 segment. This week's topic: the worst jobs on the farm. From miserable summer chores to tasks that make you question your life choices, we're sharing the jobs we'd be perfectly happy never doing again. And for our Made in the USA spotlight, let's just say things get a little unusual. This week's featured product is Neuticals: a uniquely American invention that has to be heard to be believed. Whether you're a farmer, rancher, cattle producer, ag enthusiast, or just someone who enjoys honest conversations about rural life, this episode has something for you. If you've been following the screwworm outbreak, wondering where beef prices may be headed, looking for practical crop rotation insights, or just enjoy hearing two farm guys answer real-world questions from listeners, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with a friend who loves agriculture, cattle, farming, and rural America. Go check out Agzaga! It is the ultimate online farm store. American owned and operated. Go check out their site and get what you need. Be sure to use the code TalkDirt20 to get $20 off your order of $50 or more! Visit them at: https://agzaga.com 👉 Listen now, hit subscribe, and leave Logan and Bobby Lee a 5-star review to keep the dirt talk rolling every week! Follow us on social media: Talk Dirt to Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkdirtpodcast/ Bobby Lee: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hurricane%20creek%20farms Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hurricanecreekfarm/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/HurricaneCreekFarms Logan: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/LHFarmsTN Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/lo.hanks/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqYpTjKQtOMABFOc2Aw3_Ow

In this episode of Talk Dirt To Me, we're joined by Amy McNeil, Executive Director of Tennessee Corn, for a conversation about the future of agriculture, corn production, and the challenges facing farmers today. Amy shares her background growing up in agriculture, how her family's farming roots shaped her career, and what led her to become one of the leading voices representing Tennessee corn growers. We discuss the role of the Tennessee Corn Association and how it works alongside the National Corn Growers Association to advocate for farmers across the state and the country. We also dive into the surprising number of products made from corn, the growing disconnect between consumers and food producers, and why that gap continues to create challenges for modern agriculture. Amy explains how farm organizations are working to educate the public, and tell agriculture's story. The conversation also covers year-round E15, what it means for corn growers, whether expanded ethanol use could create additional demand for corn, and why the issue remains a major topic throughout rural America. Of course, it wouldn't be Talk Dirt To Me without some fun mixed in, so we also discuss our Top 3 Classic Television Shows and see where our picks stack up against yours. If you're interested in corn farming, ethanol, agricultural policy, food production, rural America, or simply want to hear an honest conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing today's farmers, this is an episode you won't want to miss. You can check them out here at: https://www.tncorn.org/ Go check out Agzaga! It is the ultimate online farm store. American owned and operated. Go check out their site and get what you need. Be sure to use the code TalkDirt20 to get $20 off your order of $50 or more! Visit them at: https://agzaga.com 👉 Listen now, hit subscribe, and leave Logan and Bobby Lee a 5-star review to keep the dirt talk rolling every week! Follow us on social media: Talk Dirt to Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkdirtpodcast/ Bobby Lee: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hurricane%20creek%20farms Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hurricanecreekfarm/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/HurricaneCreekFarms Logan: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/LHFarmsTN Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/lo.hanks/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqYpTjKQtOMABFOc2Aw3_Ow

In this episode of Talk Dirt To Me, Logan officially wraps up soybean planting, the earliest he's ever finished planting, and gives an update on how the crop is looking across West Tennessee. Bobby Lee talks about cutting hay, getting fertilizer spread, and how somehow spreading fertilizer managed to keep the rain away long enough to save his hay from getting ruined. The guys also break down their Top 5 Movie Quotes of All Time, featuring plenty of Arnold Schwarzenegger classics and some legendary one-liners from iconic movies. After that, the conversation shifts into some major agriculture topics. They discuss E15 fuel and whether using corn for ethanol is helping or hurting American agriculture, the debate over farm payments and subsidies, and whether farmers who structure operations to maximize payments can really say they don't want government support. They also dive into rising equipment cost per acre, what machinery expenses are doing to farmers across the country, and why lowering overhead may be one of the biggest keys to surviving in today's ag economy. Plus, they discuss imported beef and what bringing more foreign beef into the U.S. could mean for cattle producers and consumers alike. A lot of laughs, strong opinions, farming talk, and movie nostalgia packed into this one. Go check out Agzaga! It is the ultimate online farm store. American owned and operated. Go check out their site and get what you need. Be sure to use the code TalkDirt20 to get $20 off your order of $50 or more! Visit them at: https://agzaga.com 👉 Listen now, hit subscribe, and leave Logan and Bobby Lee a 5-star review to keep the dirt talk rolling every week! Follow us on social media: Talk Dirt to Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkdirtpodcast/ Bobby Lee: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hurricane%20creek%20farms Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hurricanecreekfarm/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/HurricaneCreekFarms Logan: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/LHFarmsTN Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/lo.hanks/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqYpTjKQtOMABFOc2Aw3_Ow

This is a major episode of Talk Dirt To Me, covering some of the biggest stories currently impacting American agriculture, rural landowners, and national farm policy. We begin with the story of Gregory Family Farm in Sumner County, Tennessee, and their ongoing battle with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) over eminent domain. This situation raises serious questions about private property rights, government authority, and what happens when multi-generation farmland stands in the path of federal infrastructure projects. We explain what is happening, why it matters beyond Tennessee, and what this case could mean for farmers and landowners across the country. Next, we break down President Trump's executive action protecting Glyphosate and Phosphorus and discuss why the decision is tied not only to agriculture but also to food security and national security. We examine how crop protection tools affect American production capacity, global competitiveness, and the stability of the U.S. food supply. The conversation then turns to an in-depth look at Farm Bill 2.0. This episode serves as our first comprehensive breakdown of the new legislation and what it includes for farmers and rural communities. Topics covered include strengthened farm safety nets, conservation funding through EQIP and CRP programs, efforts to improve export competitiveness, pesticide liability protections, increased farm loan limits, and provisions aimed at limiting the nationwide impact of California's Proposition 12. We also discuss potential concerns and areas that may change as amendments continue to shape the bill. We will continue updating listeners as new developments occur. Along the way, the episode includes classic Talk Dirt To Me conversation, including Memphis rap nostalgia, Logan's story about an interview with a legacy media outlet that will likely never air, and a recap of our experience at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville. Made in USA Product of the Week: the suppressor cover from T and K Hunting Gear, built for durability and performance in the field. If you want real discussions about farming, policy, rural America, and the culture surrounding agriculture, this episode delivers an in-depth and honest conversation you will not hear anywhere else. Go check out Agzaga! It is the ultimate online farm store. American owned and operated. Go check out their site and get what you need. Be sure to use the code TalkDirt20 to get $20 off your order of $50 or more! Visit them at: https://agzaga.com 👉 Listen now, hit subscribe, and leave Logan and Bobby Lee a 5-star review to keep the dirt talk rolling every week! Follow us on social media: Talk Dirt to Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkdirtpodcast/ Bobby Lee: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hurricane%20creek%20farms Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hurricanecreekfarm/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/HurricaneCreekFarms Logan: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/LHFarmsTN Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/lo.hanks/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqYpTjKQtOMABFOc2Aw3_Ow

In this episode of Talk Dirt To Me, we discuss one of the things, for better or worse, that separates us from a lot of the voices in ag influence. We are willing to say things out loud that may not always be popular or sponsor-friendly. We dive into frustrations many farmers have with John Deere, including right to repair and the growing disconnect between corporate ag and life on the farm. We also talk about Bobby Lee's highly applauded comment on one of Deere's Instagram posts, a moment that probably did not help our chances of landing a sponsorship but struck a nerve with farmers across the country. From there, we shift to celebrity virtue signaling and why it rings hollow for working Americans. Billie Eilish and other celebrities come up as examples as we discuss how disconnected elite celebrity culture has become from real life, rural America, and economic pressure. We then get into the numbers farmers are actually facing. With the USDA projecting farm income to drop again in 2026, we break down what that means on the ground, why farmers are becoming more reliant on government payments just to survive, and why understanding true equipment cost per acre is no longer optional. We also challenge the long-held idea that running equipment too long is always a bad decision, and why in today's high-interest, high-depreciation environment, holding onto iron longer may actually be the smarter move. We wrap the episode with our Made in USA highlight featuring Dobbins Lures, a North Carolina-based company producing American-made animal lures for trappers who still value craftsmanship, effectiveness, and products built by people who understand the outdoors. *Go Vote for us on the Tipton County Farm Bureau Women in Ag's poll: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHbLDGeM06rLZG42WW_ps2CrgS0ktjILFeP3bSaQFdQOeQFQ/viewform Go check out Agzaga! It is the ultimate online farm store. American owned and operated. Go check out their site and get what you need. Be sure to use the code TalkDirt20 to get $20 off your order of $50 or more! Visit them at: https://agzaga.com 👉 Listen now, hit subscribe, and leave Logan and Bobby Lee a 5-star review to keep the dirt talk rolling every week! Follow us on social media: Talk Dirt to Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkdirtpodcast/ Bobby Lee: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hurricane%20creek%20farms Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hurricanecreekfarm/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/HurricaneCreekFarms Logan: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/LHFarmsTN Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/lo.hanks/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqYpTjKQtOMABFOc2Aw3_Ow

In this episode of Talk Dirt To Me, we break down Tennessee House Bill 0809 (HB 0809) the controversial legislation surrounding pesticide liability, chemical manufacturers, and modern agriculture that has sparked heated debate online and across farm country. We cut through the noise and explain what HB 0809 actually does, what it doesn't do, and why, contrary to viral claims, this bill does not open the door to more chemicals in your food or water. We walk through the realities of farming today, including how little crop protection products are actually used, when chemicals are applied, why timing matters, and how strict label laws already govern every single application farmers make. We also directly push back on claims made by Shawn Ryan, addressing the fear-based narrative that this bill would somehow amplify chemical exposure or increase cancer risk. We explain why that argument falls apart when you understand EPA labels, state regulations, applicator licensing, and modern agronomy practices. From there, we dig into the pros and cons of HB 0809, why some farmers support it, why others are skeptical, and what it could mean for lawsuits, ag innovation, and rural economies moving forward. Then we shift gears to one of the biggest frustrations in agriculture right now. The complete punt of E-15 ethanol from the bill. Farmer groups across the country are furious, and for good reason. We discuss: Why E-15 matters for corn farmers How many bushels of corn nationwide E-15 could realistically consume What kind of price impact it could have had on corn markets Why this was such a massive missed opportunity for rural America We close out the episode with a lighter but honest conversation about California, sharing our firsthand experience and why the state isn't nearly as one-dimensional as social media makes it out to be. Our Made in America segment takes a different turn this week as we highlight Cloudlifter, a U.S.-based company building rock-solid audio gear that podcasters and creators actually rely on because supporting American manufacturing doesn't stop at agriculture. If you care about farming, food production, ethanol, policy, and the truth behind agriculture, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Go check out Agzaga! It is the ultimate online farm store. American owned and operated. Go check out their site and get what you need. Be sure to use the code TalkDirt20 to get $20 off your order of $50 or more! Visit them at: https://agzaga.com 👉 Listen now, hit subscribe, and leave Logan and Bobby Lee a 5-star review to keep the dirt talk rolling every week! Follow us on social media: Talk Dirt to Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkdirtpodcast/ Bobby Lee: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hurricane%20creek%20farms Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hurricanecreekfarm/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/HurricaneCreekFarms Logan: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/LHFarmsTN Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/lo.hanks/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqYpTjKQtOMABFOc2Aw3_Ow

In this episode of Talk Dirt To Me, Logan Hanks and Bobby Lee are packing their bags and heading west to California for the American Farm Bureau National Convention, where they'll be performing a live podcast on Saturday, January 10th representing everyday farmers on a national stage. You can live stream it at FB.org! It's at 3pm PST. But this episode isn't about glitz. It's about reality. Logan breaks down what the farm economy really looks like heading into 2026, and it's not pretty. After putting pencil to paper, even with drastically cut input costs, reduced equipment expenses, and average yields, the profit margins are razor-thin, barely enough to keep most operations alive. This is the side of farming no one wants to talk about. The guys also tackle California agriculture, sharing why they have deep respect for the farmers who choose to stay and fight for food production in a state that has made it increasingly difficult to operate. Politics may be broken, but California farmers aren't giving up. Then things get even more interesting… There are strong rumblings of a large government farm payment coming this fall, and Logan and Bobby break down what it could mean. Finally, they wrap with listener questions, including one that's got people wondering: Can you legally list a friend as the operator of your farm for a year to reset USDA beginner loan eligibility? That question alone could change how some farms survive. The Made in America segment this week features Fill-Rite Nozzles — rugged, American-made equipment farmers depend on when it matters most. If you want the truth about American agriculture, not the press-release version, this episode delivers it. Go check out Agzaga! It is the ultimate online farm store. American owned and operated. Go check out their site and get what you need. Be sure to use the code TalkDirt20 to get $20 off your order of $50 or more! Visit them at: https://agzaga.com 👉 Listen now, hit subscribe, and leave Logan and Bobby Lee a 5-star review to keep the dirt talk rolling every week! Follow us on social media: Talk Dirt to Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkdirtpodcast/ Bobby Lee: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hurricane%20creek%20farms Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hurricanecreekfarm/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/HurricaneCreekFarms Logan: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/LHFarmsTN Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/lo.hanks/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqYpTjKQtOMABFOc2Aw3_Ow