The popular band, made up of singers and musicians from the farming community, have been touring the north of England for the past six years, raising much-needed funds for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI).

Now, they have added Darley Memorial Hall to their list of tour venues for March, and tickets are selling out fast.

"All we try to do is entertain people," said singer Ken Jackson.

"If we can put a smile on to people’s faces for a few hours with our concerts then we have achieved what we have set out to do, as well as raising money at the same time.

"There are those who still believe that every farmer must have it good because people say you never see one without a Land Rover, but that’s not the way it is. There are always quite a few who are struggling to make ends meet, particularly hill farmers, and that’s why the work of the RABI is so important. That’s also why we have supported the charity since we started."

The RABI celebrates its own milestone this year when it marks its 150th birthday, and in the past century and a half it has helped thousands of needy people in the farming community who have fallen on hard times.

Sally Conner, one of two regional representatives in Yorkshire, said: "The RABI assists both those who are in short-term need of on-going help, such as when a farmer is ill or when he may have perhaps been incapacitated through an accident.

"It also helps ex-farm workers who may never have had much of a pension.

"We’re really all about the farming world looking after its own. That’s why we think what Ken and the rest of the Singing Farmers do for us each year is wonderful. They have raised nearly £100,000 for the charity over the past six years, but I see their benefit to the farming community as much more than that.”

The Singing Farmers are made up of five individual singers. Three of them are farmers – Ken Jackson; Charles Marwood of Whenby, near Sheriff Hutton; and Tony Richards of Glaisdale, North York Moors.

The others are Phillip Holden, who runs a group of farm supply shops in Wensleydale; and rural journalist Chris Berry, who instigated and manages the concerts as well as performing. Lloyd Lockwood, a music teacher based in Whenby, provides accompaniment.

Ken Jackson said the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, as farming’s own charity, doesn’t get much support.

"It’s not like the Air Ambulance which gets a great deal of publicity, and rightly so, but the RABI does have its part to play,” he said.

“When farming was going through some of its toughest times – particularly during the Foot and Mouth crisis in 2001 – it was the RABI that provided a great deal of assistance, as well as manning telephone lines not just to offer help and support on the ground, but also helping those who were extremely stressed.