The Link

I make no apology for beginning this newsletter by making reference to Foot and Mouth disease. Too much of the country this is no longer news and the media manipulators are spinning their webs of truth and half truths on other stories.

To us in Yorkshire this is far from the case and the ongoing confirmation of new cases in the Southern and Northern Dales and the areas around Northallerton and the Moors near Whitby are a worry to everybody. We can only hope that it will soon be contained and that the hot weather as I write will help to eliminate the virus.

The directors of the Ring, who include one who has been culled, join with me in hoping that those of you who have had the misfortune to loose stock will ultimately recover and bounce back stronger than ever.

The effects of Foot and Mouth with a general reluctance to import men and machines onto farms, together with the miserable weather and the change in management policy on some of the larger estates has obviously had a knock on effect for the Ring.

Last year was the most successful in the history of the Ring and with grant income disappearing from the balance sheet in the future we need to continue to make steady progress.

One of the factors that continues to exercise our minds is the number of members who are infrequent users of the Ring. If the non users and low users were to only use the Ring in a modest way the finances of the Ring would be transformed.

Core turnover has held up remarkably well under the circumstances and after running behind for the early months of the year, June should see the budget for the year to date being achieved.

Commodities, notably fuel, are down on budget. With the weather being as it has been with no land work being possible, this is not surprising.

However the following paragraph written by Bruce Hamilton in the Tayforth Machinery Ring Summer newsletter is as true for us as it is for them, please remember it when reaching for the invoice pad instead of a Ring Worksheet.

"When a job is first arranged through the Ring, that job is inevitably billed through the Ring. We are concerned however that some Members consider that the next time the job happens and is arranged privately, the Ring does not deserve its 2% and thus bill each other privately. IT DOES MATTER - please remember that it was the Ring that put the two of you in touch in the first place!"

Ray and I can both testify that what is even more demoralising than finding out that the above has happened is to learn that a "first time" job that may have taken a lot of time to set up has also been invoiced privately.

Farmers as a group are quick to complain about being exploited by "The Government", "The Supermarkets", "The Multinationals", "The Foreigners With Lower Standards" and so on. But, at the end of the day it appears that some will forgo their principles for a short term opportunistic gain at the expense of supporting their Ring, an organisation that exists solely to help their business now and in the future.

Without the 2% now there will be no future.

This of course is Rays second retirement as, prior to joining the Ring in the autumn of 1996, he had enjoyed some months as a sporting gentleman of leisure following his first retirement from MAFF. His job with the Ring covered the same area that he had worked as a Field Officer and as well as his many contacts he also brought an intimate knowledge of the Moorland scene. He has contributed greatly to the development of the Ring both in the Moors and without and we will miss his shrewd and sometimes telling comments at the board meetings.

In appreciation, Mike Blacker presents Ray with his retirement gifts, a sketch of a Moorland Farm and a reclining chair for the conservatory, from the Board.

We had planned that I would have some time out and about with Ray during his last few weeks so that I could meet more of you face to face but as with other things Foot and Mouth has decided otherwise.

I am sure you all join me in wishing Ray and Val a long and happy retirement. I know that he will not have any trouble filling in the extra time that he will have and if he does he could always write his memoirs - after a lifetimes involvement in the working and social side of the Moors he certainly would have an interesting tale to tell.

The role that Ray fulfilled for the Ring was partially funded by grant aid and with the current uncertain state of the industry the Board does not wish or indeed could not afford to appoint a direct replacement. Other options are being considered but in the meanwhile those of you who have been making your requests to Ray please direct them to me at Thirsk.

It would help if you could complete the response form listing your requirements / availability.

New Board members with thoughts and ideas are always welcome and with two meetings held since his election and it will come as no surprise to many of you that he is getting to grips with items as they come forward!

Consequently he has asked if we think that Ring members and their friends would be interested/would support an evening meeting in the autumn for "a solve your health and safety problems" discussion.

Like it or not, rules and legislation are an increasing part of our lives and people today need to know what the law requires of them. Anyone can choose to ignore the law but at least they should be aware of what is required and the ensuing consequences should anything go wrong.

Attending a meeting on health and safety may not be the most exciting thing you will do this year but it may be that it will save an injury or worse to one of your family or colleagues.

Please let me know if you think you would attend such a meeting as we need an indication of numbers to decide if it is viable.

At the end of June 2001 my contract comes to an end and I say good-bye after working for nearly 5 years for the Machinery Ring. When I started in October 1996 British Agriculture was still in good heart and there was a good feeling of prosperity and optimism. Over the last 4 years things have turned round so quickly that many have left the industry in despair. An uncaring government, exceptionally wet weather and the horrendous Foot and Mouth Disease has destroyed the backbone of the industry.

Those that remain in business must rethink and reform their farming policies. MAFF who dictated our farming for over 50 years has disappeared and the new Government Department would appear to be less agriculturally motivated.

When the epidemic is finally over there will be fewer farms, fewer farmers and fewer farm workers. It will be a time when those that remain will need to co-operate. The Machinery Ring will still be there to help with that co-operation. My final word to the members is "Use it or loose it".

My best wishes to all our members.

The increasing pressure on margins and time, coupled with the reduction in the labour force has focused our attention on a delivered and spread service. This fits very well with the original Ring concept of maximising the efficient usage of equipment as well as releasing remaining staff to concentrate on other jobs.

One of the key factors with delivered and spread is to have the job done when you want it as opposed to when the contractor wants to do it. With 7 units and a proven track record we believe that new members John E Coning Fertilisers will deliver the level of service that you require.

Operating within 40 miles of Easingwold most of the membership fall within the operating area.

A specialist service requires specialist input and James Charnley (email James) is your link man with Coning. All fertiliser will be invoiced by Coning direct to the member.

When you contact James please make sure he knows that you are part of the Ring as we will receive a small commission from each sale.

BELARUS Progress 860 tractor 1996 "P" reg 2w/d 86hp	£3,000
UNITED GRASS TOPPER 9ft.	£800
STOCK DUAL WHEELS 16 x 38	£350
AIR DUAL WHEELS 13 x 38 - 5 star	£80
DUAL WHEELS 12 x 36	£80
TANDEM AXLE LIVESTOCK TRAILER	£50
PIG TAIL CULTIVATOR 16ft, 3 rows of tines	£30
DUTCH HARROW	£20

We have some ideas for developing communications and contacts between members either by making this site more interactive or by creating e-mail based "forum". I know more and more of you are using e-mail but I do not have addresses for all members. Please let me know yours.

If you have any ideas or suggestions that you think would be worth considering please let us have them.

The ring email address is rmr@breathemail.net