Jeremy Clarkson has said that farming would be straightforward if it were not for unpredictable weather and a lack of sensible government. The former Top Gear presenter, whose Amazon Prime series Clarkson's Farm has been praised for its honest portrayal of British agriculture, made the comments ahead of the show's fifth series.
Clarkson, who owns a 1,000-acre farm in the Cotswolds, said: 'If we had predictable weather and a sensible government, farming would be easy, but because we have neither, it isn’t.' He added that farmers from around the world, including Australia, America and South Africa, all cite the same two problems.
The show has been credited with sparking a surge in young people joining agricultural groups, partly due to the dynamic between Clarkson and his farm manager, Kaleb Cooper. In the upcoming series, Clarkson faces a health scare and is told to reduce his workload, but finds this difficult amid ongoing protests against the government's budget.
Clarkson also introduces EasyCare sheep, a low-maintenance breed that sheds its own fleece, and upgrades Diddly Squat Farm with high-tech equipment, including an autonomous tractor and a FarmDroid for planting. He takes Cooper on his first trip abroad to see advanced farming techniques, where Cooper noted that farmers overseas are 'much further ahead' than those in Britain.
Despite the technology, Clarkson admitted he still struggles with basic practical tasks, saying: 'After six or seven years of farming, I still can’t attach anything to the back of a tractor.' The new series promises further drama as chaos and bad luck strike the farm.
