The Ringleader Borders Machinery Ring Ltd. July Newsletter 2014 Galamoor House, Netherdale Industrial Estate, Galashiels TD1 3EY • 01896 758091 hat a difference a year makes. The Wcountryside is certainly looking a S u mm e R lot better than this time last year. Silage operations are already well under way R e p o R t on some farms with much better yields than 2013. Cereal crops are well forward this year which has resulted in an early demand for chemicals nationwide which has put pressure on supplies. BMR continues to work with Anglia In this issue: Farmers chemical buying group which negotiate very competitive deals with the main suppliers Photo: 'Brand new calf, near Fairliehope' by J. Sutcliffe in the market and deliver through their local Summer Report .............................1 depots. The buying group suits members who use an independent agronomist and are not Small-holder services ....................2 tied to a specific chemical supplier. To find out BMR News Updates ......................3 more contact the BMR office. If you are still looking for someone to help with Vehicles and Machinery ................4 silage or harvest work or just an extra pair of Members' Updates ........................5 hands for an odd day to help with livestock just give us a call. We also have members that are Woodland Management/ willing to look stock if you are away on holiday. Arable and Livestock .....................6 We have also had a record number of requests for training over the last year including the Training/Utilities ............................7 usual legislative courses for Forklift, Chainsaw, Renewables ...................................8 Spraying and ATV. If you are looking to put yourself or a member of staff through a refresher or a new course please get in touch We are… with Jill at the office to discuss options. Remember to check your fuel tanks in time BMR for the busy spell. BMR continues to offer a competitive fuel brokering service for Main Office: members. We have recently had a number of Galamoor House, Netherdale, Galashiels TD1 3EY new members join BMR for fuel when they Tel: 01896 758091; Fax: 01896 757036 realised that they sometimes had been paying email: [email protected] up to 8ppl more than the going rate by sticking Manager: with the same supplier. We offer a transparent MicHael Bayne service that tenders on a daily basis and saves mobile: 07968 224 302 you the time and hassle of phoning round. Fuel email: [email protected] buyers through the ring pay zero commission. ContraCts/ Business DevelopMent: We are currently looking at a fuel sensor pilot Jill DicksoN project which is being trialled by another mobile: 07866 538 347 email: [email protected] machinery ring. The sensor will send a text or e-mail alert to the member & ring office when WooDlanD ManageMent: PauL Boobyer a fill threshold has been reached or a sudden mobile: 07553 354 983 drop as a result of a theft. From the Ring point email: [email protected] of view it offers the potential to achieve further accounts: savings by monitoring tanks in geographical sandra HaMiltoN areas and helping distributors route more email: [email protected] effectively. administration: Finally, BMR will have a stand at the Border Ann McGregoR Union Show and Duns Show this summer. email: [email protected] anD Remember to come in for a catch up and find saRaH calder out about the wide range of services that we email: [email protected] now offer to the members. M.B. Photo: © Vasyl Torous Visit the BMR Ltd. website on www.ringleader.co.uk Woodland Manage M e n t Update BMR farm Woodland Management Project The BMR farm woodland management project has made good progress to date. Paul Boobyer, Woodland Manager at BMR, has overseen the production of 38 woodland management plans, as well as the woodland mapping for all these properties. BMR is for commercial conifer woodland be required to register on the BSL currently sending these draft plans creation will be increased, while by autumn this year. Biomass boiler to woodland owners for their payments for planting mixed native owners will also need to demonstrate approval. Once approved by owners broadleaves will be decreased under that they have sourced fuel from a the plans are forwarded to Forestry the next SRDP scheme. This change BSL-registered supplier. If you supply Commission Scotland (FCS). Once is to address the lack of commercial your boiler with chips made from these plans have been approved woodlands being planted in recent your own woodlands, you will be by FCS, the woodland owner or years. It is also anticipated that land required to have an FCS-approved their agent is then eligible to apply owners will be able to claim single woodland management plan for your for SRDP funding for woodland farm payments as well as SRDP woodlands as evidence of sustainably management operations. grants for woodland creation under sourced timber. Registration on the the new scheme. Approximately 70% BSL is free of charge. You can contact - 100% of the capital costs of new the BSL Administrator on SRDP funding for woodland fencing can also be applied for via 020 7090 7769 or management update SRDP when fencing new woodlands. [email protected] While funding rates for SRDP and single farm payment are still Biomass suppliers list (BSL) BMR Seminar 17 July 2014 under review, it is now known All suppliers and producers of BMR is hosting a half-day seminar on that the percentage of funding biomass (chips, logs and pellets) will 17 July 2014 at the Cross Keys Hotel in Kelso. Tea and coffee will be available from 9:00, with presentations on the Biomass Suppliers List, BMR farm woodland management project, SRDP funding and woodchip production. A buffet lunch will be provided. Booking is recommended. Contact Ann McGregor at BMR to reserve your place: (01896) 758091, or email [email protected] Small-holder services WORKSHEETS Do you have a Call BMR for: Grass topping Paddock Remember to send in your small area of spraying with certified operators Fencing worksheets for work done land and wonder Fertiliser spreading Mole catching throughout the summer for who to turn to Other services you may find useful members. This can also be done Fuel procurement – Kerosene, woodchip, directly from our website at: for services? seasoned logs www.ringleader.co.uk Building materials-very Repeat business between good rates available for building materials, aggregate Members that was originally a job and paint for BMR members arranged through the Ring Office should be billed to BMR. Call the office with your requirements, and let BMR take the hassle out Support the Ring – of finding suppliers It is your at competitive rates for you. Business!! 2 PLEASE MENTION BMR WHEN REPLYING TO ADVERTS n e W s U p d a t e keep safe, keep legal by Archie Stewart, Director, Trackplot Ltd and a Borders farmer safe, simple, secure it’s a risky business Act 1974 and the Management Agriculture, forestry and fishing of Health and Safety at Work is the riskiest industry sector to Regulations 1999. people are. This is especially important for people who work work in, accounting for about one The law aims to reduce injury alone. If you are running late and in five fatal injuries to workers, and fatality statistics. It requires overdue you can advise you are according to the Health and employers to think about and OK. If assistance is needed, an Safety Executive. deal with any health and safety alert can be raised to request help risks before people are allowed Farmers and farm workers often at a known location. work alone and are exposed to to work alone. This applies risks from potentially dangerous to employees, volunteers, Safety is important. contractors and self-employed machinery, chemicals, livestock, Trackplot wants to make farming people. A hassle we know but pits and silos. These risks extend a safer industry to work in. www. Trackplot can help. to family members working or trackplot.com living at the farm too. Combined How does Trackplot with a “can do” culture on farms, this sometimes results in people help? taking shortcuts and risks which Trackplot immediately brings increases the rate of accidents. peace of mind for you, your staff Workplace and your families (because they It is for these reasons that most worry too). health and safety land-based businesses have a need for a lone worker system The Trackplot Portal is a unique on the agenda like Trackplot. If you, your staff or online mapping tool designed The Borders Health and contractors work alone you need for people who work outdoors. Safety Group has recently to consider this carefully. It provides a way to locate and communicate with people in rural formed and has been Your duty of care and isolated areas not covered registered as a member of Fallen off your quad bike? Broken by a mobile phone network. Our Safety Groups UK, Scottish down in a remote area? People system works across the whole of Safety Groups and RoSPA. the UK including all remote areas. who work alone are exposed to Membership is free and significant risk – simply because The Trackplot Portal uses the we plan to hold bi- they work alone. Often they Global Positioning System (GPS) monthly meetings open to behave differently to workers in to find your location. The Portal members and anyone with teams. In fact, injuries for lone integrates with a range of workers seem to be worse than devices to transmit messages via an interest in workplace for those who work in teams.