Free conference exploring productivity, profitability and sustainability in the dairy sector
Dairy farming remains an important part of the rural economy across Omagh, West Tyrone and the surrounding countryside. With farmers facing rising costs, changing markets and increasing pressure to improve environmental performance, making informed business decisions has never been more important.
The Dairy Conference 2026 will bring together farmers, industry representatives and agricultural experts to explore how research, technology and better use of farm data can help dairy businesses improve productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Organised by the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland, in partnership with AgriSearch, the College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), the free event will take place at CAFRE Greenmount Campus on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
Why it matters for farmers around Omagh
For dairy farmers across rural Tyrone, improving productivity is not simply about producing more milk. It is increasingly about making better use of resources, controlling costs, improving herd performance and building a farm business that is resilient for the future.
The conference will examine practical issues that can influence decisions on local farms, including:
- changing dairy markets and what processors are looking for
- using genetics and farm data to improve herd performance
- improving efficiency and productivity
- sustainable livestock production
- research and innovation that could support future farm profitability
The event also provides an opportunity for farmers to hear directly from processors, researchers and other farmers about the changes taking place across the dairy industry.
Understanding the dairy market
The first session will feature Nick Whelan, Dairy UK Vice Chair and Dale Farm CEO, followed by a panel discussion chaired by Dairy Council NI Chief Executive Ian Stevenson.
Panellists include representatives from:
For farmers supplying milk from the Omagh area, this session could provide useful insight into wider market trends, processor priorities and the direction of the dairy sector.
Using genetics and data to improve farm performance
The second session will look at livestock genetics and the growing role of data in farm decision-making.
Chaired by Francis Breen, CAFRE’s Head of Livestock Genetics and Data Branch, the panel will include:
- Marco Winters, AHDB
- Hannah Martin, SRG
- Andrew McCollum, Farmer
Genetic information and performance data can help farmers make more informed breeding and management decisions, potentially improving herd health, efficiency and long-term productivity.
Delivering sustainable dairy production
The final session will focus on sustainable livestock systems and how farms can respond to environmental challenges while remaining productive and commercially viable.
The discussion will be chaired by Jason Rankin from AgriSearch, with contributions from:
- Steven Morrison, Head of AFBI Sustainable Livestock Systems Branch
- Jim Uprichard, Trouw Nutrition
For local farm businesses, sustainability increasingly goes hand in hand with efficiency. Better use of feed, livestock genetics, technology and farm data can all contribute to reducing waste and strengthening the overall performance of the business.
Conference details
Date: Tuesday 20 October 2026
Time: 10am to 3pm
Location: CAFRE Greenmount Campus
Cost: Free
The Dairy Conference 2026 could be particularly useful for dairy farmers and agricultural businesses from Omagh and the wider Tyrone area who want to understand emerging industry trends and explore practical ways to strengthen the future of their farm business.
