Jeremy Clarkson says farmers can fight back as ‘anti-farming’ Government faces growing backlash

Jeremy Clarkson has criticised what he describes as an “actively anti-farming” Government but insists that farmers still have an opportunity to come together, share solutions and push back against policies he believes are damaging the agricultural sector.

The Clarkson’s Farm presenter says he has no intention of walking away from farming, despite mounting pressures including government policy uncertainty and increasingly difficult weather conditions that have affected harvests across the country.

Speaking about the state of the industry, Mr Clarkson said farmers were facing relentless challenges.

“It is absolute hell now for farmers. We have an actively anti-farming Government who are making things extremely tricky for us all,” he said.
“I am genuinely really cross, because there is no-one in Government who understands farming.”

Mr Clarkson made the comments during a recent episode of the Cereals Podcast, where he appeared alongside his land agent and agronomist, Charlie Ireland. The pair discussed the long-term difficulties faced by farmers and reflected on the struggles experienced at Diddly Squat Farm in recent years.

During the conversation, Mr Clarkson revealed that the only strong harvest the farm has recorded in the past five years came during the one season when filming was not taking place.

Mr Ireland said the lack of confidence was not limited to farming alone, but was affecting businesses more broadly.

“It is not only a challenge for farmers at the minute, it is a challenge for all businesses, because nobody has any confidence to invest in the future,” he said.
“Farmers are battling with risk management, but we are seeing more collaboration as a result. People are working together through these tough times, and that is really important.”

Mr Clarkson is set to host the arable Cereals Event at Diddly Squat Farm on 10 and 11 June 2026. The event is expected to attract around 25,000 farmers, contractors and agronomists, alongside more than 550 exhibitors, and will be open exclusively to members of the farming community.

He hopes the gathering will serve as a platform for farmers to unite and discuss practical responses to what he sees as an increasingly hostile political environment.

“We have got to get together and do something about this Government,” he said.

Beyond policy discussions, Mr Clarkson also said the event could help address the sense of isolation and pressure many farmers are experiencing.

“We joke, but farming is a lonely existence,” he said.
“You have one man, losing money and fighting a government that seems to actively not like farming. The despair they will be feeling is tremendous.”

He added that many farmers are facing a difficult year ahead, with little financial return and uncertainty about how they will afford essentials such as seed and fertiliser for the next season.

While acknowledging that he is in a more fortunate position than many, Mr Clarkson stressed his commitment to farming.

“I am very lucky because I am surrounded by people all day and, realistically, I could just walk away,” he said.
“But I will not walk away.”