Harper Adams University opened its doors to more than 600 visitors as it celebrated its landmark Gold Cup victory.
The event recognized outstanding flock performance, sustainability and advanced innovation following Harper Adams’ recent victory in the UK’s most prestigious Dairy Award – the NMR RABDF Gold Cup.
Visitors were invited to explore the university’s future farms, gain insights from key voices in the dairy sector and participate in programmes of lectures and technology workshops.
Upon holding the event, Associate Vice President Michael Lee described the Gold Cup victory as “one of the proudest moments of my time at Harper Adams University,” praised the team’s efforts and long-term vision that brought the award back.
The bright mood was echoed by keynote speakers and famous dairy market commentator Chris Walkland.
“A lot of milk processors hold milk prices in August, so you should be really positive about the coming months,” he told the audience.
Walkland confirmed a 4.1% decline in the World Dairy Trade (GDT) auction on July 1 (the sharpest decline in the year), but reassured farmers that prices in the UK remained stable.
“I don’t think that this market slide will affect your milk price,” he said. “It’s a big problem for New Zealand. Yes, EU butter prices have been dropping a little, but the cream is flying.
“By the end of last week it reached £2.85 and rose to £2.90, which is an exception during this period.”
He added: “If the amount of milk you’re producing isn’t insane, then I think we’re talking about rising prices, not lowering. But the processors don’t want to increase milk.
Reflecting farm income performance, Walkland said May 2025 was ranked the second highest month on record for total milk income, based on a combination of price and volume.
“March is the fourth, April 7th, January 9th, June 10th. The best month was December 2022. But back then, the money was just as fast as it was in.
He also reminded farmers of the new fair trade obligation (milk) regulations that will come into effect from July 9th.
“If the buyer has not issued a compliant contract by then, you are technically breaking the law. You are not. Don’t panic,” he explained.
“What you need to do is give them transparency about pricing and the ability to complain a little more easily.”
RABDF Chairman Robert Craig praised Harper Adams’ future farm as a key example of how technology, skilled people and research-led practices can work together to improve performance, sustainability and animal health.
“This Gold Cup victory is perfectly fitting and it’s great to see how academic research and commercial agriculture can come together to shape the future of our industry,” he said.
