US dairy farmers bring practical resilience roadshow to Britain

British dairy farmers will hear first-hand how a leading US dairy business has built resilience at scale, as we bring Drumgoon Dairy to Great Britain this summer.

Running from 22 June to 3 July, this roadshow will share proven strategies from a 6,500-cow dairy business built on performance, people and long-term planning.

Events will take place across Great Britain, giving levy payers direct access to the insights, systems and decision-making behind a high-performing, future-focused farm.

Owned by Rodney and Dorothy Elliott, Drumgoon Dairy has grown from a family operation into a large-scale farm since relocating from Northern Ireland to South Dakota in 2006.

Today, the business combines:

• Strong financial management
• Structured systems
• New technology
• Investment in sustainability, including renewable natural gas

The roadshow focuses on a clear message. Resilience comes from getting the fundamentals right, consistently and at scale.

Sessions will cover:

• Understand what drives profit and make confident, timely decisions
• Design a simple, robust system to improve efficiency, consistency and adaptability
• Strengthen sustainability with practical changes that support environmental and business performance
• Get the most from your people through clear roles and responsibilities
• Plan ahead with a clear direction that evolves over time

These are tested approaches from a business operating at scale, with clear relevance for dairy farms facing pressure on margins, labour and long-term viability.

Events will take place in:

• West Sussex
• Somerset
• Devon
• Carmarthenshire
• South Ayrshire
• Cumbria
• Lancashire
• Shropshire
• Staffordshire

Dates: 22 June to 3 July

Time: 10:30am to 2:30pm

Places are limited.

Mark Campbell, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager, said:

“Farmers have always learned best from other farmers, and that’s never been more important than it is today.

“The dairy industry no longer operates in isolation at a local level; we operate in a global market, influenced by global pressures, opportunities and consumer expectations.

“What makes this roadshow so valuable is the chance to hear directly from a business that has faced many of the same challenges British farmers are experiencing, but in a different environment and at a different scale.

“There is huge value in sharing ideas internationally, challenging our thinking and taking practical lessons from progressive businesses around the world that can help strengthen resilience and performance.”

Rodney and Dorothy Elliott said:

“We started small and grew step by step, so we understand the pressures farmers are under. What’s helped us is staying focused on the basics and building a team that can deliver them consistently.

“We’re really looking forward to meeting farmers across Great Britain and exchanging ideas that can make a difference on farm.”