New legislation will mean that from January 5, 2008, transporters or attendants using road vehicles for transporting farm animals over specified distances and times, will have to have received appropriate training and assessment. However, farmers and hauliers throughout Wales need not worry as PMR, The Machinery Ring, will be offering a training and assessment package from next month to help transporters and attendants meet these regulations - the training is designed to enable them to confidently take their independently assessed Certificates of Competence. PMR (tel: 01437 720730) is a Lantra Awards approved training provider and has been working closely with this organisation to ensure that farmers, hauliers and attendants are able to meet the new legislation requirements with the least amount of trouble or disruption. Training is available to both members and non-members of PMR. Machinery Rings exist to help farmers and the agricultural industry, providing logistics and administration with machinery, equipment and services, to reduce their costs. In addition, the rings provide training, labour recruitment and project management services - all designed to help the agricultural industry through the pressures that they face and to reduce their fixed costs. Earlier this week, members of PMR held their annual general meeting at the Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, Carmarthen, when the chairman, Mr. Noel Richards, presented a very encouraging annual report. Paying tribute to the ambitions and foresight of the founding members, such as Mr. Lionel Phillips, of Molleston, Mr. Richards stated that 73 new members had joined during the year ending January 31 last, bringing the total to 1,190. The annual turnover had increased by 20 per cent to over £2.3 million and the number of full time employees and field staff had been reduced to eight.
