RSABI and Farmers’ Choir release ‘Stand by Me’ cover

As many farming families continue to battle the difficult spring weather, Scottish farming charity RSABI has released a newly recorded song with the Farmers’ Choir to raise the community’s spirits.

Recent weeks have seen constant rainfall – combined with sleet and snow in parts of Scotland – creating major challenges for almost every part of the industry, be that farmers who are lambing or calving in these conditions, or arable farmers still unable to get onto the land.

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The song, a cover of “Stand by Me”, was recorded with around 100 members of the Farmers’ Choir, and is intended to remind farmers of all of the people that are there to stand by them, and behind the farming industry.

“We know that some families have been finding it hard to cope with stress and anxiety and, coupled with the sheer exhaustion of working in these conditions, the pressure has been hard to bear for some,” said Carol McLaren, CEO of RSABI.

“So it is incredibly important to share the message, particularly to those working alone, that farmers have the backing and understanding of so many people, in the farming community and further afield.”

The song has an accompanying video, which features a range of industry figures, from farm supplies retail assistants, to vets, auctioneers, consultants and milk tanker drivers, as well as farmers from different parts of the country, including Aberdeenshire, Lanarkshire and Perthshire.

The video has been shared across RSABI’s social media platforms, and can be viewed here:

RSABI has also been working with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs to encourage people to “KeepTalking” and share the “AreEweOkay” message via marker spray artwork in lambing sheds and fields across the country.

Carol added: “The team at RSABI are also ready and waiting at the end of the phone 24/7.”

RSABI can be contacted on 0808 1234 555 and via the live webchat at www.rsabi.org.uk.