Jeremy Clarkson has admitted he feels “a little embarrassed” as his Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds is set to host 30,000 farmers at the prestigious Cereals event
Television personality Jeremy Clarkson has confessed to feeling “embarrassment” regarding a significant challenge at his Diddly Squat Farm.
The ex-Top Gear presenter is preparing for the launch of a fresh series of Clarkson’s Farm, set to premiere on Amazon Prime in early June. However, matters haven’t been running smoothly at the agricultural venture, as he disclosed that a particular difficulty means “not much actual farming is going on”.
In June, Diddly Squat is set to welcome Cereals, a farming gathering that brings together agricultural professionals from throughout the UK for two days of industry discussion.
While Jeremy expressed being “very proud” about hosting the occasion at his Cotswolds location, he acknowledged feeling “a little embarrassed”.
In his Sunday Times column, he wrote: “I’m very proud that we’ve been selected to host this prestigious event, but also a little embarrassed, because 30,000 farmers will be talking nonstop about farming on a farm where not much actual farming is going on,” reports the Express.
Jeremy proceeded to clarify that his land agent, Cheerful Charlie, advised him against sowing spring barley and durum wheat across his fields.
The reasoning being that regardless of ideal weather conditions and flawless execution, he would inevitably face financial losses.
He added: “This surprised me because last year, thanks to the long, hot summer, the harvest was terrible. The second worst in living memory. Yields were down by as much as 40 per cent.”It turns out, however, that only northern Europe had a bad harvest last year. For the rest of the world it was bountiful, so as a result the market is drowning in grain, and as a result the price is extremely low. So if I grew wheat this year, in the UK, where energy, labour costs and taxes are extremely high, I’d be screwed.”
Rather than dwelling on his 1,000 acres of land that had been “made redundant”, Jeremy explained he chose to hire a 13-tonne digger instead.
He acknowledges that possessing a digger combined with spare time represents the “most dangerous combination in the world” for a man.
The television personality observed: “Ordinarily a man will look at a big job and think, that looks like it requires too much effort so I shall go to the pub instead. But when you’re in a digger, no job is too big.”
He humorously recounts excavating a pond and constructing a dam, before dismantling a hedge following lunch. The fifth series of the immensely popular reality programme Clarkson’s Farm arrives on the streaming platform on 3 June.
The show follows the former Top Gear presenter and his team as they tackle obstacles across the farmland and with livestock. Over the years, these have included a Bovine TB outbreak, disputes over planning permission and mounting financial strains.
