The UK Dairy Carbon Network project has taken a major step forward with the appointment of a new team of Farm Liaison Officers. Tasked with bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and practical on-farm application, they bring a wealth of experience in animal health, genetics, and farm management. More importantly they have a shared passion for supporting a sustainable future for British dairy.
Each Farm Liaison Officer brings a unique set of skills and regional knowledge to the team:
Great Britain:
Jessica Graham, covering Cumbria and southwest Scotland, has a background as a Registered Veterinary Nurse and vet tech, along with hands-on experience in dairy farming. Her focus is on youngstock management and practical approaches to high welfare standards.
“I’m passionate about working directly with farmers to champion animal health and sound management that’s both realistic and impactful,” she says.
Kelly Seaton, looking after the West Midlands region, brings hands-on experience from her family dairy farm in Cheshire. She has a strong interest in transition management, calf health, and staff development and is an active member of the Holstein community.
“Being part of the DCN means contributing to something bigger – helping shape a more sustainable dairy sector while supporting the people behind it,” says Kelly.
Sarah Taylor, covering South West England and South Wales, has a practical background rooted in dairy farming, starting with milking before moving into breeding services and agricultural sales. Her hands-on knowledge is complemented by a strong interest in calf rearing, which she remains actively involved with on her own farm.
“I’m passionate about all things dairy, especially calf health. I want to bring my practical and commercial experience together to help farms get the most out of this project,” she says.
Northern Ireland:
Jonathan McAleese, based in Northern Ireland, combines academic grounding from Harper Adams University with hands-on experience on his family’s dairy farm. With a particular interest in genetics and sustainability, he’s focused on helping farms improve efficiency while meeting environmental targets.
“Being part of the DCN team is a great opportunity to help farmers make changes that are both practical and future-focused,” says Jonathan.
Stephen Shanks, also in Northern Ireland, brings six years of experience as a breeding advisor. His deep knowledge of dairy cattle genetics and enthusiasm for innovation make him a valuable part of the team.
“The pressure to reduce emissions is real—but there are practical, genetic-based solutions to help farmers rise to the challenge,” he explains.
Building relationships and identifying opportunities
The Farm Liaison Officers are now out on farms across the UK, meeting farmers in their network, understanding their systems and building relationships that will underpin the success of the project. As part of the early work, they are capturing partial carbon footprint data to help farmers gain insight into the current emissions profile of their business.
Working closely with each farm, the team will help identify where the biggest opportunities lie, pinpointing the parts of the system with the greatest potential for improvement. These insights will then be matched with the practical tools, resources and support available through the project to ensure changes are both effective and achievable.
With their combined expertise and on-the-ground knowledge, the Farm Liaison Team is helping to ensure that the Dairy Carbon Network delivers real, lasting impact.