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!

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This week we went LIVE from the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim, California with our first-ever live show in front of a crowd. Logan and Bobby Lee kick things off with a no-BS conversation about the farm economy, the row crop squeeze, and why the barrier to entry for young farmers has gotten flat-out insane.

Midway through, we're joined by Joby Young, Executive Vice President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, to break down what Farm Bureau really is (hint: it's way more than insurance), how their grassroots policy process works, and what they're fighting for right now to help farmers stay in business.

We also get into the tough topics: input inflation, corporate chokeholds, farm payments that disappear in 48 hours, and how we create real demand so agriculture gets back to profitable. Joby shares his wild story of serving as Acting U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for 26 hours, plus what Farm Bureau is pushing on issues like year-round E15 and whole milk in schools.

Farmers! Join your local Farm Bureau! Your state has one!

And yes… we close with a Made in America pick: Duckworth (Montana-made merino wool gear).

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