Episode Details

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.