Ep. 224: Why Farmers Are Fed Up- John Deere, Celebrity Elites, and the Real Cost of Survival
Fri Feb 06 2026
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
More
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