Talk Dirt to Me

Logan Hanks

Talk Dirt To Me is the no-filter podcast where two working farmers pull back the curtain on real American agriculture. Hosts Logan Hanks and Dr. Bobby Lee Hanks share boots-on-the-ground insight from running a full-time corn and soybean operation and a working cattle herd. Each week they dive into the business and lifestyle of modern farming. Row crops, beef cattle, agronomy, equipment, ag policy, markets, and rural grit with unfiltered stories, lessons learned, and interviews with farmers, ranchers, and ag industry leaders shaping the future of food, products, and fiber.

  1. 3d ago

    Ep. 245: Glyphosate, MAHA, and the Attack on American Farming Feat. Rusty Grills and Stefan Maupin

    Is glyphosate really safe? What happens if it's banned? Is modern American farming under attack? This week on Talk Dirt To Me, we're joined in studio by Tennessee State Representative Rusty Grills and Tennessee Soybean Promotion Council Executive Director Stefan Maupin for one of our most candid and hard-hitting conversations yet. We kick things off by tackling an issue that rarely makes headlines but is costing farmers millions every year: deer damage to crops. As urban sprawl continues to expand, exploding deer populations are creating a growing crisis for row crop farmers across Tennessee and the United States. Then we dive headfirst into the biggest controversy in agriculture today: glyphosate. We break down the recent Supreme Court ruling involving Bayer/Monsanto, what the decision actually means, and answer the questions everyone is asking: • Is glyphosate safe? • Could modern agriculture survive without glyphosate? • What would food prices and crop production look like if it were banned? • If glyphosate is outlawed, what's next? • Is the MAHA movement helping farmers or hurting them? We also discuss the growing divide between farmers and consumers, why it feels like agriculture is now taking criticism from every direction, and what farmers can do to better tell their story. Finally, we examine the influence of major voices like Shawn Ryan and Joe Rogan, discussing what happens when massive platforms amplify critics of modern farming and how the agricultural community should respond. Whether you're a farmer, rancher, policymaker, or simply someone who wants to understand where your food comes from, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, leave us a five-star review, and share this episode with someone who cares about the future of American agriculture. 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

    1h 35m
  2. Jun 26

    Ep. 244: Should We Eliminate Row Crop Farming? We Did the Math.

    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

    1h 11m
  3. Jun 19

    Ep. 243: Ticks, Antibiotics & The Future of Cattle Production | Nick Patterson & Dale Parker

    This week on Talk Dirt To Me, we're joined in studio by Nick Patterson, President of the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association, and Dale Parker, Vice President of the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of Tennessee's cattle industry. We dive into Nick and Dale's backgrounds as cattle producers, how they became involved with the TCA, and their vision for strengthening the voice of Tennessee cattlemen across the state. From industry advocacy to producer education, we discuss what they hope to accomplish and why organizations like the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association matter now more than ever. We also tackle some of the biggest issues facing livestock producers today, including the growing concern over the New World Screwworm, Lone Star ticks, and Asian longhorned ticks. Nick and Dale share practical prevention strategies, what producers should be watching for, and how these threats could impact cattle operations across the region. The conversation doesn't stop there. We discuss the widening gap between farmers and consumers, why agricultural producers must do a better job telling their stories, and how misinformation can shape public perception of modern agriculture. We also address a question many cattlemen have asked: Is the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association beholden to the NCBA? We examine the relationship between the TCA and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and discuss who the NCBA ultimately represents. To wrap things up, Nick and Dale answer listener-submitted questions covering a variety of topics affecting cattle producers and rural communities. Whether you're a cattle producer in Tennessee or beyond, farmer, rancher, agricultural advocate, or simply interested in where your food comes from, this is an episode packed with insight, honest discussion, and practical information you won't want to miss. Join the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association: https://www.tncattle.org/  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

    1h 60m
  4. Jun 12

    Ep. 242: Who Let the Screwworm In? | Listener Q&A

    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

    1h 32m
  5. Jun 5

    Ep. 241: Farmer Sues the USDA, A Race to the Bottom, and the Screwworm Arrives!

    This week's lineup is loaded. The FTC just opened its first real antitrust investigation into fertilizer pricing, a Wisconsin farmer took the USDA to court over discrimination and won, and cattle prices are sitting at record highs while the screwworm threat creeps toward the border. Plus AI moving into the field, a hard look at why everybody copying everybody is killing small ag, and our Made in America pick. In this episode we get into the FTC fertilizer antitrust investigation, including why prices jumped overnight with no supply change and how that seems dirty. We break down the USDA discrimination settlement and how dairy farmer Adam Faust ended race- and sex-based preferences in federal farm programs like EQIP, loan guarantees, and Dairy Margin Coverage. We talk record cattle prices and the New World screwworm, with beef at all-time highs, the herd at a 75-year low, and the parasite Texas declared a disaster over. We dig into AI in agriculture, from cutting herbicide use 70% in the field to the data center land grab eating up rural farmland, water, and power. We get into why an oversaturated market is a race to the bottom for small farm operations and how to actually stand out instead of copying the crowd. We run our Top 3 occupations besides farming, hand out our Made in America pick with Crocodile Cloth, and close it out with a few words on glyphosate, Shawn Ryan, and the conversation the loudest critics keep dodging. Real talk from real farmers, row crops, cattle, and everything in between. New episodes weekly. Follow on Spotify so you never miss 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

    1h 36m
  6. May 29

    Ep. 240: Corn, Ethanol & The Future of Farming with Amy McNeil | Tennessee Corn

    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

    1h 11m
  7. May 22

    Ep. 239: The Biggest Cattle Theft Story We've Seen In Years plus China trade deals??

    This week on Talk Dirt To Me, we dive into one of the craziest ag crime stories we've seen in years after 64 Holstein calves vanished overnight from an Ohio farm in a theft worth well over $120,000. Law enforcement believes it was likely an inside job, and we break down just how difficult it would be to move that many cattle without somebody in the industry knowing exactly what they were doing. From ear tags and sale barns to modern cattle rustling and sky-high beef prices, this one opens up a much bigger conversation about where the cattle market is right now. From there, we jump into how the White House is floating a new $17 billion ag trade commitment with China. The question is whether this is a real turning point or just another vague promise farmers have heard before. We talk through what China actually needs from the U.S., whether any of this could meaningfully move commodity prices, and why so many producers remain skeptical. We also get into slowing soybean acreage growth in Brazil, Australia's worsening wheat situation, and why Logan decided to lock in $12 soybeans during the recent rally. We break down USDA's new fertilizer production push, the possibility of more farm aid payments, the stalled Farm Bill fight in the Senate, and why even longtime Republican farm-state senators are openly criticizing current trade policy. Despite all the pressure, American farmers are still getting the crop in fast and keeping the food supply moving. That's really the story tying this entire episode together, conventional agriculture continuing to produce under brutal margins, rising costs, and nonstop uncertainty. And of course, we ask the question every farmer listening will have an opinion on: what would you do if 64 head walked off your place overnight? 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

    1h 31m
  8. May 15

    Ep. 238: Arnold Quotes, Equipment Costs & Imported Beef

    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

    1h 33m
5
out of 5
345 Ratings

About

Talk Dirt To Me is the no-filter podcast where two working farmers pull back the curtain on real American agriculture. Hosts Logan Hanks and Dr. Bobby Lee Hanks share boots-on-the-ground insight from running a full-time corn and soybean operation and a working cattle herd. Each week they dive into the business and lifestyle of modern farming. Row crops, beef cattle, agronomy, equipment, ag policy, markets, and rural grit with unfiltered stories, lessons learned, and interviews with farmers, ranchers, and ag industry leaders shaping the future of food, products, and fiber.

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