Plan to merge Highland and Aberdeenshire-based machinery rings
Two Scottish farming co-operatives have announced plans to merge their operations.
Laurencekirk-based Ringlink Scotland Ltd and Highland Business Services Ltd (HBS) would have a combined membership of more than 4,000 farmers and crofters and an annual turnover of £100m, if the deal goes ahead.
North Kessock-headquartered HBS will ask its members to vote on the plans next month. If approved, the merger could take place on 1 August.
In farming, "rings" enable farmers to pool resources such as machinery and workers, and first started taking off in Scotland about 50 years ago.
Borders Machinery Ring was the UK's first when it was set up in 1987, and Ringlink Scotland became the second when it was established a year later.
The proposed new business would take the Ringlink Scotland name and could involve about 450 workers in total.
It would operate in the Highlands, Argyll, Angus and Fife.
HBS will ask its members to vote on the merger on 11 July.
Ringlink Scotland said it would retain its offices in Cupar, Coupar Angus, Oldmeldrum and Elgin.
Chairman James Porter said: "Both rings have worked closely together over the last few years and the proposed merger is the next logical step forward in the machinery ring concept in the north of Scotland."
HBS chairwoman Anne Rae Macdonald the merger would be a "significant step" in the Highland group's development.
She added: "The merger will enable the joint business to build on existing resources, help find new opportunities for our farming and crofting businesses, provide on-going support for staff and reduce costs in areas such as administration, computer software and professional fees."
There are a number of other rings in the Scotland, and about 30 in total across the UK.
Among the aims of rings are to overcome staff shortages and also help individual farmers avoid having to buy expensive machinery.
