Most people hear “FSA” and think one thing: a backup plan. That assumption can cost farmers real options. We sit down with Anna Armstrong, a Farm Loan Specialist, and David Wayne, Kentucky’s State Executive Director, to unpack what the USDA Farm Service Agency actually does and how producers can use it to build a stronger operation.

We talk through the day-to-day reality of FSA, then zoom out into the big buckets farmers rely on: agricultural lending, disaster assistance, price support, and conservation programs like CRP. You’ll hear why FSA is built to protect a farm’s financial viability when risk shows up through weather events, yield loss, livestock loss, or market swings, and why staying informed is often the difference between getting help and missing it.

On the lending side, we break down direct farm loans versus guaranteed loans, how participation deals work with a local lender, and why longer terms and flexible structures can change cash flow in a tight ag economy. We also dig into underused tools like NAP coverage for specialty crops, plus Marketing Assistance Loans and Farm Storage Facility Loans that can help producers manage grain marketing and storage decisions. Along the way, we share practical advice to speed up an application, prepare clean financial and production records, and keep a close eye on your balance sheet and cost per acre.

If you’re a beginning farmer, a growing family operation, or an established producer trying to refinance or expand, this conversation gives you a clear map of what to ask for and who to call. Subscribe, share this with a farmer or lender who needs it, and leave a review with what you want us to cover next.

We sit down with Coye Elliott to explore hunting as a year‑round passion and the ways thoughtful food‑plot strategy can improve deer health, expand turkey opportunities, and increase the long‑term value of recreational land. The conversation also digs into realistic costs, simple equipment setups, and the biggest mistakes beginners should avoid.

We talk about how hunting and the outdoors serve as a powerful stress reliever and a way to build lasting family memories. Coye explains why food plots matter far beyond hunting success, supporting overall herd management and habitat quality. We get into the importance of keeping forage available nearly 365 days a year so animals stay on the property longer, and how high‑protein nutrition influences body weight and antler development.

Coye breaks down how to choose between clover, alfalfa, brassicas, wheat, oats, and standing corn, and he shares a practical rule of thumb: planting five to ten percent of your acreage can make a meaningful impact. We also cover how newcomers can do effective habitat work with nothing more than an ATV, a small sprayer, or a basic chainsaw.

From timber‑stand improvement and hinge cutting to letting sunlight stimulate natural browse, Coye highlights simple habitat upgrades that pay off. He also touches on conservation programs and USDA resources that can offset expenses. We discuss how trail cameras create a kind of property “resume” that boosts future resale value, and how land appreciation, leveraging equity, and 1031 exchanges can help buyers move toward their next farm. Finally, Coye sets expectations for cost per acre and explains why starting small is almost always better than overspending.

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.