OUR HISTORY

Machinery Ring history

Borders Machinery Ring (BMR) was the first machinery ring to be established in the UK when 23 local farmers and contractors joined together in 1987 to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Essentially a machinery ring "matches a shortage of machinery and/or labour capacity on one farm with a surplus on another".

Although the first machinery rings were first established in Germany in the late 1940s and have been popular across the world especially in the US, the idea quickly spread throughout the UK and today there are eight rings in Scotland and a further eight in England and Wales.

Initially set up to encourage co-operation and pool resources in order to improve operations for its members, machinery rings have moved with the times and now offer a variety of services. There are bulk discounts to be had for products such as crop protection chemicals, mobile phones and electricity as well as all types of fuel. Exclusive deals with major manufacturers including Case IH offer BMR members lucrative rebate schemes.

One area that has escalated since the birth of the machinery ring is labour supply especially with the increase in freelance workers and changes in farming practices, which have led to peaks and troughs in the need for staff between busy and quieter periods.

But labour supply is not sufficient without the skills to match which is why Borders Machinery Ring offers a comprehensive list of training courses including Lantra recognised qualifications. As well as courses in fork-lift truck and tractor driving, first aid and pest control, BMR in partnership with Borders College also offers the Pre-Apprenticeship Programme which helps introduce young people to a range of practical experiences through a 6-month work placement within the agriculture and the land-based sector.

While the future of agriculture may not be easy to predict one thing is certain; machinery rings are here to stay and offer members unrivalled help and benefits for their business.

To watch a video introduction to that explains exactly a machinery ring does click here.