Kelvin Fletcher and his family are facing another disaster on their Cheshire farm, as an upcoming episode of their ITV show reveals that their oat crop could be 'devastated' by an infestation of leatherjackets. The former Emmerdale star, who is back with a third series of Fletchers' Family Farm, recently dealt with a fire that destroyed their farmhouse.
In next week's episode, Kelvin discovers that his oat field has lost its colour, prompting him to call in agronomist Ben for help. Ben identifies leatherjackets—larvae of crane flies—in the soil, which feed on roots. 'They'll eat the root system of your grass and now your oats. These can be quite a problem,' Ben warns. When Kelvin asks if they will 'decimate the crop,' Ben replies that they 'really can be devastated.'
The extent of the infestation remains unclear until the crop is more established. 'If gaps or rings start appearing across the field, it's usually an indicator that it has spread across the field,' Kelvin explains. However, there is some good news: Ben confirms that the oat seeds have taken hold in the soil.
Elsewhere in the episode, Kelvin and his wife Liz challenge their children to make scarecrows to deter birds and bugs, while Liz devises a plan to manage their chaotic chickens. The family is still recovering from the fire that broke out while they were on holiday, destroying the farmhouse and all of Kelvin's clothes.
Fletchers' Family Farm continues on Sunday at 11:30am on ITV1 and ITVX.
