He’s a farmer first and a crop duster second, and that changes everything about how he flies. We’re joined by Robert Houston, a fifth-generation producer who farms for a living and does aerial application because he loves the work and the relationships. If you’ve ever wondered what crop dusting actually does for corn, soybeans and canola, why some growers choose a plane over a ground sprayer, or how an ag pilot thinks about risk, this conversation gets specific fast.

We talk timeliness, crop damage, and soil compaction, plus the real-world economics behind paying for aerial spraying. Robert explains how he charges, why he limits his radius, and what makes loading from his own strip so much more efficient than working around traffic at a regular airport. We also get into the equipment side of agricultural aviation: fuel burn, aircraft design, and why pattern testing, nozzle angle, and spray system setup can matter as much as the product in the tank.

The most surprising part is what he calls the biggest challenge today: people. Robert breaks down drift concerns, chemical misconceptions, social media pressure, and why he’ll sometimes leave a field or even turn down acres if the situation isn’t safe or worth the risk. Along the way, we also cover his on-farm practices like injecting liquid hog manure and flying on cover crops to protect soil and recycle nutrients.

If you care about farming, crop protection, cover crops, or the future of ag trust, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a producer or neighbor, and leave us a review with what you want to learn next.

Ever wonder how a family farm survives wild price swings, weather curveballs, and shifting markets? We sit down with Kentucky producer Keith Harris to unpack the real mechanics of resilience: diversifying for stability, securing buyers before planting, and building a legacy that gives each child a lane to thrive. Keith’s story starts with dark fire tobacco, which funded decades of growth, then pivots into a multi-enterprise operation spanning 3,500 acres of row crops, retail strawberries, 270 acres of watermelons, beef-on-dairy calves, and brand-new Vital egg barns.

The conversation gets specific about business strategy. Keith breaks down how he aligned crops with available labor, why retail made sense for berries, and how wholesale contracts with Costco and Walmart turned watermelons into a scalable, time-sensitive machine—often eight to ten semi-loads per day in July. He explains the quiet skills that make or break diversified farms: prioritizing small tasks, managing teams across overlapping seasons, and partnering with brokers to keep logistics tight. We also tackle the hard truths—vegetable margins are tighter than a decade ago, tobacco’s heyday is past, and row crop income runs in cycles—plus the mindset that keeps a farm moving forward.

If you’re a grower, ag professional, or curious listener, you’ll hear practical, field-tested advice on risk management, market-building, and when to pivot versus push through. Keith’s family-first approach shows how to expand with intention, train the next generation to lead, and build structured income streams that steady the ship when markets rock. Subscribe, share with a farmer friend, and leave a review with the one insight you’ll apply this season.

A wet spring, a parched August, and a combine that won’t quit—this conversation with fourth-generation farmer Allen Pace gets right to the heart of what it takes to bring a crop from the field to your plate. We talk through the harvest grind, the thin line between profit and loss, and why a few cents per bushel can swing a year when you’re moving hundreds of thousands of bushels. Allen shares how a lean crew uses crystal-clear communication and a whole lot of hustle to make good decisions when time, weather, and markets refuse to cooperate.

We dive into yields across Ballard County and beyond—corn averaging around 215 on his acres, early soybeans pushing into the 60s and 70s, and double-crop beans waiting on late rain. Allen explains how this year’s weather flipped yield maps, why storage and timing matter when harvest lows hit, and how working with a marketing team helps capture those crucial pennies. We follow the grain as it leaves the farm: down lock-free rivers toward export, to regional poultry integrators, and even into Kentucky’s booming bourbon industry.

There’s a bigger shift underway too. Soy oil is stepping into the spotlight thanks to renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, changing the crush equation and creating new demand. Allen’s work on the Soybean Board highlights the research that got us here, and he makes a simple case for ag literacy: you may not eat soybeans, but your chicken sure did. We also look ahead at the next decade—drones, planter innovation, autonomy, hybrid powertrains—and what actually pays back versus what’s just a shiny toy. The perfect farm size? The profitable one. If you care about food security, rural economies, or just want an honest look at modern farming, this conversation delivers both grit and insight.