The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and Ulster Farmers Union will hold a Beef Conference and Farm Visit at CAFRE's Greenmount Campus in Antrim on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

The event starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. It includes a morning technical conference and an afternoon visit to the CAFRE Beef and Sheep Centre. Registration costs £25 and covers lunch, handled through the Ulster Farmers Union website.

Speakers include Colin Smith, CEO of the Livestock and Meat Commission, who will cover beef market trends locally and globally and their effects on Northern Ireland producers. Peter Kennedy, Head of Agriculture and Fisheries at Marks and Spencer, will address consumer needs, supermarket requirements and supply chain integration.

Dr. Paul Crosson from Teagasc will discuss efficiency factors for viable and sustainable beef production. Professor Michael Lee from Harper Adams University will examine beef systems' role in food security and environmental protection, including sustainability metrics.

Trevor Summerville and Declan Rafferty, both from County Tyrone, will provide virtual tours of their beef enterprises. Summerville will cover herd management, breeding and grass-based efficiency. Rafferty will detail suckler herd improvements via genetics, fertility, compact calving, nutrition and grassland management.

Gary Haslem, Head of Sustainable Land Management at CAFRE, stated the farm visit will address genetics, suckler cows, beef finishing, forage nutrition, animal health, welfare and biodiversity integration. Dr. Eileen McCloskey, Senior Livestock Technologist at CAFRE, noted the event aims to support profitable and sustainable beef systems on Northern Ireland farms.

An evening farm visit option runs from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with no fee. Sponsors include ABP Food Group, Foyle Food Group and WD Meats.