University of Kentucky agricultural engineers share how their engineering backgrounds influence their livestock farms in a new podcast. 

“Have You Herd,” is hosted by Morgan Hayes and Joshua Jackson, assistant extension professors in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Friends since meeting at UK when students, both specialize in livestock handling facilities with Hayes’ research occurring mostly inside those facilities, while Jackson focuses on the outside. Jackson is also known for his geospatial and drone research. 

Josh Jackson works cattle on his Mercer County farm.

Outside of UK, Hayes raises 100 commercial beef cattle and small ruminants on her Boyle County farm. A multigenerational farmer from Mercer County, Jackson raises 60 purebred Angus cattle and small ruminants. 

“We talk about what we are doing on our farms and how we use our engineering background and data to help us make logical decisions for our operations,” Hayes said.  

“As farmers and university extension specialists, we know that it sometimes can be difficult to practice what you preach, and like all producers, we want to share tips with others that we have found to be practical and economical,” Jackson said. 

During the weekly podcast, they will share how they collect, analyze and use data from their farms to make informed management decisions. 

“I hope our listeners find it interesting to hear our approaches to farming and learn the reasons behind our decision-making processes,” Hayes said. 

Morgan Hayes looks at a new stand of summer annual forage on her farm.

Conversation topics are seasonal and based on the engineers’ farming experiences. Upcoming episodes feature information on generators and back-up power, financing, frost seeding clover, planting, selling bulls, spring calving and weaning.   

“Have You Herd” airs each Thursday and is available on the UK Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering’s website at  https://www.uky.edu/bae/have-you-herd, Podbean at https://haveyouherdwithjoshandmorgan.podbean.com/, Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3vEg38RYlJB7d0siEqggly and YouTube https://bit.ly/3Hiv4Vh.    

Hayes and Jackson encourage listener participation and feedback. Those who have questions or would like them to address a particular topic in the podcast may email Hayes at hayesmorgan@uky.edu or Jackson at joshjackson@uky.edu.