Merger of Scottish farming co-operatives approved

Two Scottish farming co-operatives have merged their operations after the plan was approved by its members.

Laurencekirk-based Ringlink Scotland Ltd and Highland Business Services Ltd (HBS) now have a combined membership of more than 4,000 farmers and crofters, and an annual turnover of £100m.

Under the name Ringlink (Scotland) Ltd, HBS will continue to manage local services from Tore, near Inverness.

The new company also said all Ringlink offices - including Laurencekirk, Cupar, Coupar Angus, Oldmeldrum and Elgin - would remain open.

In the farming industry, "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.

Ringlink (Scotland) Ltd involves about 450 workers in total, and the new business will operate in the Highlands, Moray, Argyll, Angus and Fife.

HBS members voted on the merger last week.