News Farmers get vocal in support of pigs
A group of farmers have trotted out a ditty singing the praises of British pork and ham.
The aim is to show support for struggling pig farmers ham-pered by rising feed costs and consumers keeping a closed lid on their piggy banks.
Richard Longthorp, who owns Kilpin Hall Farm near Howden, is one of 20 UK farmers who are recording a song called Stand by your Ham, to the tune of the Tammy Wynette classic Stand by your Man.
While Richard had nothing to do with the writing of the lyrics - he was afraid he'd make a pig's ear of it - he will be taking part in the recording of the song in London.
The ditty - which will be released by the National Pig Association (NPA) under the Pig Aid banner - will be availabe to download on the internet but an album is not on the cards just yet.
The chorus goes as follows:
Stand by your ham.
Sau-sa-ges, Pork And Bacon
Keep givin' all the help you can,
Stand by your ham.
Next on the list for the funky farmers could be a cover of Glen Campbell's Rind-stone Cowboy, or perhaps a reworking of the Nina Simone classic I Loves you Porky.
Mr Longthorp (55) said the song was a bit of a laugh but carried a serious message at a time when many pig farmers were staring into the abyss.
Mr Longthorp, whose daughter Anna Oates sells free-range pork for the family firm, said: "I'm useless at singing but I'll have a go if it helps British pork."
The arable and pig farmer has been practising the song with the help of Anna, who plays the piano while her father sings the chorus.
He said: "The idea is just a light-hearted way of raising the profile of the current issue that the industry is facing, which is that feed prices have risen by about 70 per cent.
"We are facing such massive costs because the pig industry, unlike many farming industries, isn't subsidised."
The farmers are trying line up the famous Abbey Road Studios in London to record their song, which has not been completed yet. This will be followed by a protest outside 10 Downing Street on March 4, where up to 500 farmers will voice their anger about their current predicament.
Bernie Kay, of the NPA, wrote the lyrics to the song and the instrumentals were provided by musician Hugh Crabtree, a pork supplier based in Reading.
The recording sessions start today (Thursday) and when the song is complete it will be avaiable at: www.britishpigsareworthit.com.
Information on the farmers' campaign can also be gleaned from this website.
However, Mr Longthorp says no matter how successful the campaign proves to be, it will still be too late to save a good many pig farmers from ruin.
"There will be more; it's inevitable," he said. "There are some who are right on the brink now."
Published on 21st February 2008 in News.
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