Jeremy Clarkson Details “Complete Disaster” On Diddly Squat Farm As He Makes Bold Prediction
Jeremy Clarkson recently penned his farming struggles on the Diddly Squat Farm, in The Sunday Times, whilst also making a bold prediction for the future of farming in the UK with the approaching climate change.
He didn’t mince words when describing the effects of climate change on farming: “Yes, it’s all a complete disaster.” He recounted the impact of last year’s harsh summer on his crops, “Last summer was so hot and so dry for so long that the ground was harder than diamond-infused granite.”
Clarkson’s attempts at growing oil-seed rape were foiled by flea beetles, leading to a loss of £3,000 spent on seeds. The oats he planted next also died. He attempted to grow spring barley, critical for his Hawkstone beer, despite the rocky Cotswold landscape. A cold spring made growth difficult and led to the risk of the crop being rejected by maltsters, which left him worried.
On a concerning note, he made a prediction of where UK farming will go in the future:
“If I were Kaleb Cooper, my young tractor driver who’s just getting going in the world of farming, I wouldn’t be thinking about barley, wheat and oil-seed rape. I’d be thinking about oranges and lemons. I’d be planting peach orchards and ostrich enclosures and replacing all my cows with camels. This, it seems to me, is the most sensible way of approaching climate change.”
He also mentioned an unsuccessful venture to open a restaurant in an old barn at his farm. However, the council deemed it unsustainable and incompatible with the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Even after appealing the decision, he only gained permission for a car park extension but was denied the restaurant addition due to potential detrimental effects on the area’s character and appearance.
Prime Video’s Clarkson’s Farm has picked up a huge amount of praise since the first season was released for showing the realistic difficulties that farmers face across the UK.
