What is a Machinery Ring?

Rural Services Scotland was formerly Perthshire Machinery Ring. But what is a machinery ring?

A Machinery Ring matches a shortage of machinery and labour capacity on some farms with a surplus on other farms.  For the supplier, this reduces the major costs of machinery ownership.  Machinery thus becomes more efficient over the period of time.  Conversely, the Demander does not need to own an entire range of machinery needed on the farm, thereby reducing his fixed costs.  Most members are Suppliers of some operations and Demanders of others, allowing them to fully utilise the machinery they own. The term Machinery Ring is somewhat restrictive as there are now so many more services to benefit members such as commodity sales, allowing members to source inputs at competitive prices

Ring membership is open to all in the rural community especially farmers, agricultural contractors, labour providers, training instructors and all companies supplying the industry.