Podcast
Talk Dirt to Me
Hosted by Logan Hanks · EN
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.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep. 240: Corn, Ethanol & The Future of Farming with Amy McNeil | Tennessee Corn
3w ago01:11:13Tap to summarizeIn 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
Transcribe →Ep. 239: The Biggest Cattle Theft Story We've Seen In Years plus China trade deals??
3w ago01:31:29Tap to summarizeThis 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
Transcribe →Ep. 238: Arnold Quotes, Equipment Costs & Imported Beef
May 1501:32:30Tap to summarizeIn 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
Transcribe →Ep. 237: Cheap Groceries Come at a Cost / DOJ Investigates Meat Packers
May 801:26:46Tap to summarizeTonight's episode of Talk Dirt To Me is packed with everything from Tennessee agriculture to Hollywood crushes and hard-hitting industry talk. We kick things off with a breakdown of the incredible farm tour we attended featuring Skip Baskin's cattle operation, Kirk Daniels' pecan orchard and diversified farm, and Turner Angus Farms, where we got to see their cattle program and the pizza restaurant they built inside a barn using beef raised right on their farm. It was an awesome look at the innovation, diversity, and entrepreneurial spirit driving Tennessee agriculture today. We also dive into the USDA issuing the remaining SDRP payments and have a real conversation about farm subsidies, food prices, and why the current ag system is structured the way it is. Like it or not, cheap groceries in America come at a cost, and we discuss why most consumers are not prepared for what food prices would look like without support programs in place. The recent egg price situation proved that in a hurry. From there, we lighten things up with our Top 3 actresses list before shifting gears into one of the biggest stories in agriculture right now, the DOJ investigating the Big Four meat packers over possible price manipulation. We break down why this matters for cattle producers and consumers alike and why many farmers are glad this issue is finally getting attention. We wrap things up answering listener questions, including our thoughts on the screwworm situation and what it could mean moving forward. If you enjoy agriculture, rural life, cattle talk, food systems, and unfiltered conversation, 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
Transcribe →Ep. 236: Rain, Record Cattle Prices & Cocaine Bear
May 101:28:59Tap to summarizeSometimes you've got to laugh to keep from crying in agriculture, and that's exactly what we did in this episode of Talk Dirt To Me. After weeks of dry conditions and stress across farm country, we finally got a big rain in West Tennessee and break down what it means for crops, planting progress, and why no-till farming and cover crops may have absolutely saved the day during the heavy rainfall. We also lighten the mood with our Top 5 Fast Food Joints rankings, which quickly turns into the kind of debate only sleep-deprived farmers and cattlemen can have. On the livestock side, cattle prices continue smashing records and breaking through the glass ceiling with no signs of slowing down, and we discuss what's driving the market and whether producers can expect the rally to continue. Things really go off the rails when we talk about the Tennessee highway bee truck wreck that released millions of bees, which somehow leads us into the legendary story of Cocaine Bear in Georgia. And to wrap things up, Bobby Lee shares his famous "3 S's" method for dealing with predators and buzzards messing with cattle. If you enjoy farming talk, cattle markets, rural humor, cover crop discussion, country storytelling, and two farmers trying to survive modern agriculture with their sanity intact, this one's for you. 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
Transcribe →Ep. 235: Why Nobody Feels Sorry for Farmers Anymore
Apr 2401:29:51Tap to summarizeWe kick this one off as we build our top three songs for a late night playlist. A very special late night playlist that is... It goes exactly how you'd expect and maybe worse. From there we give a quick farm update with beans going in the ground and Bobby Lee getting fertilizer lined out for the hay. Then we break down some of the best equipment decisions we've made and a few we wish we could take back. The big conversation in this episode centers around public perception and why it's hard for the average factory worker to feel sorry for a farmer driving a Denali Duramax. It's an honest look at how things appear versus how they actually are. We also talk about the push for the new farm bill and why farmers need to be reaching out to their representatives right now. To close it out, we break down how much of the food dollar actually makes it back to the farmer and rancher. Hint, it's a lot less than you think. If you want real insight from farmers dealing with rising input costs, tight margins, and uncertainty heading into the growing season, this episode delivers it straight. 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
Transcribe →Ep. 234: Fertilizer Crisis Explodes and Farmers Say the Numbers Are Wrong
Apr 1701:27:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Talk Dirt To Me, we cover a little bit of everything and then dive headfirst into one of the biggest issues in agriculture right now. We start off with our top 5 comedy movies of all time, which turns into a solid mix of classics and a few surprises. From there, Bobby Lee shares a wild story involving a Department of Homeland Security phone call about possible drug smuggling, and it is every bit as crazy as it sounds. We also give a full update on planting season and how things are shaping up here in West Tennessee. We are running way ahead of schedule this year, which is not something we are used to, and we talk about what that could mean moving forward. The biggest conversation in this episode centers around the fertilizer situation. The fertilizer crisis is getting worse, prices are still brutal, and availability is a real concern. We break down the latest poll results from the American Farm Bureau and compare them to Brooke Rollins' numbers on how many farmers supposedly pre booked fertilizer. The two do not line up at all, and from where we sit, the reality on the ground tells a very different story. If you want real insight from farmers dealing with rising input costs, tight margins, and uncertainty heading into the growing season, this episode delivers it straight. 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
Transcribe →Ep. 233: Early Corn, Dry Fields & Rising Costs | Top 5 Sports Movies + Listener Questions
Apr 1001:27:00Tap to summarizePlanting season is rolling and we're already about 80% done on corn. In this episode, we give a full farm update from West Tennessee. Corn is already coming up, cabbage is in the ground, and conditions are way drier than we're used to this time of year. We break down what that means for this crop and how it could impact the season moving forward. We also get real about the financial pressure hitting agriculture right now. Fertilizer prices are still brutal, diesel is flat-out painful, and Logan shares what he just paid for a load of off-road diesel. If you're farming, you already know… but this puts numbers to it. Switching gears, Bobby Lee brings some fun to the show with our Top 5 Sports Movies of All Time. We go back and forth on the classics, some surprises, and a few that might get people fired up. We wrap things up with listener Q&A, with a heavy focus on cattle questions. From herd management to current market thoughts, we cover what you guys are asking about most right now. If you're in agriculture, thinking about getting into it, or just want real, unfiltered farm talk, this one's for you! 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 Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a fellow producer. Agriculture doesn't stop, and neither do we.
Transcribe →Ep. 232: Commissioner Andy Holt Gets Real About Farming, Policy, and the Future of Ag
Apr 301:47:08Tap to summarizeWe've got a big one for you. Andy Holt joined us in studio for a wide-ranging conversation on the current state of agriculture and where things are headed. We dig into why he stepped into government, what he's seeing across Tennessee farms right now, and how programs like the Tennessee Ag Enhancement Program are impacting producers on the ground. We also talk about the importance of diversification in modern agriculture, challenges farmers are facing today, and why he remains optimistic about the future of the industry. Also, yes we did discuss a certain fire that may have made him go viral years ago. This episode covers everything from policy to practical farm-level insight, with real talk on what's working, what's not, and what needs to change. If you care about farming, ag policy, or the future of American agriculture, this is one 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 Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a fellow producer. Agriculture doesn't stop, and neither do we.
Transcribe →Ep. 231: Beef Prices Surge, Early Corn Planting, Wildfires & AI Cattle Herding
Mar 2701:20:50Tap to summarizeWe're covering A LOT of ground in this one. We kick things off ranking our top three Western films of all time, then get into the real stuff: planting season is HERE and this is the earliest we've ever put corn in the ground. From there we dive into beef prices, where they're at, and where they're headed. We break down the devastating Nebraska wildfires, 800,000+ acres burned, 35,000 cattle displaced, and grazing land destroyed in the largest wildfire in state history. We also talk Halter's AI cattle herding collars, the $2 billion tech that lets you move herds from your phone, and whether we think it's actually a good thing for ranching. On the policy side, we cover Thomas Massie's PRIME Act making it into the 2026 Farm Bill, National Ag Day, and the new "Product of USA" labeling standard requiring meat to be born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the U.S. to carry the label. Oh, and Bobby Lee got his YouTube hacked. We have a theory about that. 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 Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a fellow producer. Agriculture doesn't stop, and neither do we.
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