Ep. 222: HB 0809 Explained: Pesticides, Farming Reality, and the Truth Behind the Fear

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.

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