April 18, 2023

Episode 13: Dean Hanson - "Farming for our Future"

1 hour 14 minutes

Gritman explains the farming journey that him and his son Coy have begun. While spending quality time together and getting a little dirt under their nails are their primary goals, Gritman becomes increasingly curious about how the heck anyone makes money farming. He reaches out to his John Deere dealer and asks if they can introduce him to a real farmer and they connect him with Dean Hanson. Dean is one of the larger corn and cotton producers in Wharton and Matagorda Counties.

Dean did not inherit a farm, rather built his operation from scratch, increasing his acreage over time. Gritman and Dean discuss the challenges associated with farming and why a farmer must have a lot of grit to survive.

Show topics:

The question you never ask a farmer

How he’s adapted over the years to create efficiencies and maximize yields

Challenges facing farmers (drought, flood, hogs, input costs, rising land values, bad trade deals, commodity prices, solar farms)

Truth about crop insurance and subsidies

Why it’s hard to be a small scale farmer today

Should foreign countries own US farm land

Secret to hooking up implements to the tractor

Thank you to our presenting sponsor Shoppa’s John Deere

Season Sponsors:

Outdoor Shirt Provider: Poncho Outdoors

Loud Music Provider: Turtle Box Audio