What is a Machinery Ring?

A Machinery Ring is a means of matching surplus machinery and labour capacity in one agricultural business with a corresponding need in another local business. There is a need for both contractors as well as farmers as ring members. The Ring managers match up supply and demand, oversee overall work standards and supervise payments of the supplier by the demander through the Ring.

The Ring is a non-profit making co-operative registered under the Industrial and Provident Society Act whose primary aim is to encourage more rational joint use of machinery to the mutual benefit of ring members. The Ring acts only as an intermediary and not as a principal.

The Machinery Ring is a not-for-profit co-operative of forward thinking agricultural and allied businesses supplying and demanding services through its members.

• 200 plus members
• £3 million turnover
• Covering an area 50 mile radius from Reading (Junction 12 on M4 Motorway)
• 700 varying services available including:
  • Cultivations & Ploughing
  • Drilling: mintill and conventional
  • Fertilising and lime: GPS sytems available
  • Spraying: hand lance up to 36m
  • Silage and hay conservation
  • Combining and baling
  • Hedgecutting: flail and saw
  • Land drainage: ponds and lakes excavated
  • Self drive hire: tractors and equipment
  • Plant Hire: self-drive or operated
  • Fencing: stock, post and rail, metal park land, security etc.
  • Hedges and woodland planted
  • Country stewardship: seeding and maintenance
  • Muck Spreading
  • Compost Spreading
  • Training Courses