Two farmers from Northern Ireland will share their experiences in cutting carbon emissions on their farms at the upcoming Dairy Conference 2026.

Andrew Crawford and Wallace Gregg are part of the UK Dairy Carbon Network (UK-DCN), and are set to share their experiences of participating in the project through videos recorded on their own farms.

The two farmers will then join researchers and industry experts for a panel discussion in the afternoon session of the conference.

Crawford milks 340 cows with his brother William outside Beragh, Co. Tyrone, while Gregg milks 180 cows near Glarryford, Co. Antrim.

Through UK-DCN, both farms have implemented a range of measures being assessed for their potential to improve efficiency and reduce emissions, including approaches to nutrition, breeding, and forage management.

Explaining why he became involved in UK-DCN, Gregg said: “I am a great believer in scientific research producing benefits for farmers, and I feel local research proven on Northern Irish farms is crucial.

Crawford said the project could also help demonstrate the progress already being made within the dairy sector: “I think the Dairy Carbon Network is one way the dairy industry can get greater recognition for what it has already been doing to reduce its carbon footprint.”

AgriSearch

Chaired by Jason Rankin, senior industry adviser at AgriSearch, the afternoon session will also hear from Prof. Steven Morrison of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), who will provide an overview of the UK-DCN and the work taking place across its network of commercial dairy farms.

He will be followed by Jim Uprichard of Trouw Nutrition, who will examine the theme of 'Feeding for Sustainability', looking at the role nutrition can play in supporting efficient dairy production while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Following the presentations and farm videos, Crawford and Gregg will join Morrison and Uprichard for a panel discussion, giving delegates an opportunity to explore the practical opportunities and challenges involved in putting research and new approaches into practice on commercial dairy farms.

Looking ahead to the session, Rankin said: “One of the real strengths of the UK Dairy Carbon Network is that it brings research, technical expertise and practical farming experience together.

"The afternoon session will follow that same approach, combining the wider UK-DCN perspective with a specific look at nutrition and, importantly, the experience of farmers implementing measures on their own farms.

“Ultimately, approaches to reducing emissions have to work within commercially viable farming systems."

He added that hearing directly from farmers involved in testing and implementing measures through UK-DCN will be an important part of the discussion.

UK-DCN

The UK-DCN said it is working with over 50 dairy farms across the UK to put "practical, farm-ready solutions" for reducing greenhouse gas emissions into action.

Led by AFBI and funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the project is driven by a UK-wide consortium of leading research institutions and industry organisations.

The Northern Ireland UK-DCN Farm Network is managed by AgriSearch.

The Dairy Conference 2026, themed 'Driving Profitability, Delivering Sustainability', will take place on October 20 at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus, Co. Antrim.

Hosted by the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland (DCNI), AgriSearch, CAFRE and the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), the conference will feature sessions covering sustainability, genetics, nutrition and practical on-farm experience.

The conference is free to attend but booking is required. Attendees can register on the UFU’s website.