Clarkson’s Farm

[rigga]

Mikebentley said:

Are Kaleb and Gerald father and son? Gerald reminds me of when I first saw Hot Fuzz with the Police dog handler saying “Tharp”. I then worked in Gloucestershire and all became clear.

I asked previously ....not related.

[Smollet]

rigga said:

Mikebentley said:

Are Kaleb and Gerald father and son? Gerald reminds me of when I first saw Hot Fuzz with the Police dog handler saying “Tharp”. I then worked in Gloucestershire and all became clear.

I asked previously ....not related.

I’d imagine Cooper is a pretty common name in rural agricultural areas

[andy ted]

Sway said:

andy ted said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Scabutz said:

anxious_ant said:

It's also a very fun introduction to farming. Big expenses though, wonder if it's sponsored or out of Jezza's own pocket.

Amazon must be writing the cheques for a lot of it I would guess. Nice deal for Jezza. Get paid for a TV show, get your farm partially funded.

It's not like he needs the money. Must have made 7 figures from selling Top Gear, then again from Grand Tour. Plus WWTBAM, Times and other journalism. Doubt money causes him sleepless nights. It's a good gig, that's for sure.

If he owns the 1000 acres outright (big assumption of course!) then arable farmland in the cotswolds looks like approx £9.5k- £10k an acre so thats £9-10m of land on its own (inheritance tax free too I think as a bonus) so based on that he is probably doing OK for money...

He's quite open he bought it for a relative song in 08.

He's also been very open that part of the motivation was to show how tough it is to make money doing farming - he's alright, as he puts it he can get on the phone and do another series of Millionaire or whatever.

Yes, he's throwing in the entertainment side to pull people in - but I genuinely think he's doing all this for the right reasons.

Yeah not knocking it at all! really enjoying it so far, he is no fool and I am sure has done very well out of his past projects and hope he makes a success of this farming one long term. He could have overplayed the financial 'risk' to him a lot more and he hasn't at least up to where I have got to so far - was just pointing out that of all the things keeping him up at night I wouldn't think Money is top of that list currently and that is what gives him more scope to make this type of show - hope it can continue!

[8003px]

Really enjoyed all the series, hope they do another as its both good entertainment and quite enlightening.
Plus Lisa is a a right babe!

[Harfi88]

For some reason my phone told me the thread was two pages shorter than it was so I missed a load of comments I’ve watched the full series and thought it was brilliant. Some of the best scenes are the one man and his machine bits where everyone looks genuinely happy to be at work.

Edited by Harfi88 on Tuesday 15th June 08:00

[citizensm1th]

Questions have we had a barren poster cull and did Clarkson get upset?

[J4CKO]

Watched the first two last night, transfixed, even the wife who groans when she sees Jeremey Clarkson was chuckling away.

Its sort of like they have diluted him a little bit, he is still very much there but the other people, the scenery, the sheep and the enormity of the task at hand means it doesnt feel contrived and as oafish. Now I like Clarkson but can see how a lot don't but this really does show him in a better light, less of the ape and more of a him being, er, actually human.

He does seem to be putting his heart and soul into it, am fairly convinced its not all an act, obviously some stuff will be contrived but with sheep I dont think you need to, they are their own comedy.

It feels fresh where, though I still enjoyed it TG was getting a bit hackneyed and repetitive, seemed a bit weird at first but after one episode, hooked and it just seems so natural.

I bet some of those sniffy Guardian readers are secretly really enjoying it, how can you not enjoy that scenery and Jeremy getting booted by a sheep ?

Like the fact he has some ladies showing him the ropes and is listening and not being weird, the Tractor instructor lady and the shepherdess for example.

Main thing is an appreciation for farming, farmers and all the folk who work in the industry, that is a tough gig, hats off to you and well done JC for bringing that to the attention of the public, suspect this will do more for the perception of farmers and farming than anything before.

[Doofus]

J4CKO said:

Main thing is an appreciation for farming, farmers and all the folk who work in the industry, that is a tough gig, hats off to you and well done JC for bringing that to the attention of the public, suspect this will do more for the perception of farmers and farming than anything before.

I fear that, to some, it will just reinforce the idea that farmers are minted landowners who are just mucking about for most of the time, whilst receiving subsidies from the Government to not grow crops.

[J4CKO]

Doofus said:

J4CKO said:

Main thing is an appreciation for farming, farmers and all the folk who work in the industry, that is a tough gig, hats off to you and well done JC for bringing that to the attention of the public, suspect this will do more for the perception of farmers and farming than anything before.

I fear that, to some, it will just reinforce the idea that farmers are minted landowners who are just mucking about for most of the time, whilst receiving subsidies from the Government to not grow crops.

Hmm, possibly but would hope folk can see the difference between a very wealthy TV personality doing it and someone who doesnt have millions to bail themselves out and Amazon cash pouring in, if Clarkson gets stopped by the rain, plus all the other issues (some inexperience and for laughs maybe, but not all) and he has all those resources to pull on, it must be very hard for those less well heeled.

Its good to understand the methods and processes, plus its not really a place for the sentimental as the broken sheep thing showed.

[Dr Jekyll]

Doofus said:

I fear that, to some, it will just reinforce the idea that farmers are minted landowners who are just mucking about for most of the time, whilst receiving subsidies from the Government to not grow crops.

I don't think so. It's very clear how difficult it must be to make any money from farming. It's also instructive to see that whatever a farmer is trying to do, there is always an official somewhere trying to ban it.

[robwilk]

Scabutz said:

Condi said:

Scabutz said:

Also was surprised that Lambo tractor was 40k. I was expect 2-3 times that.

He bought it second hand. Wasn't new.

Even so. It looks like a massively sophisticated piece of kit. Unless the 2nd hand market for tractors is tough. Seems like a bargain.

I thought this so googled Lambo tractor r8 for sale and there are two available in Germany for £42K and £45k

[ewolg]

Really enjoyed the series and Kaleb was a star, berating JC. I think they have become good friends as that’s the kind of banter I’d have with mine.
I used to work in Chipping Norton so appreciate the area & scenery.

[Sway]

Dr Jekyll said:

Doofus said:

I fear that, to some, it will just reinforce the idea that farmers are minted landowners who are just mucking about for most of the time, whilst receiving subsidies from the Government to not grow crops.

I don't think so. It's very clear how difficult it must be to make any money from farming. It's also instructive to see that whatever a farmer is trying to do, there is always an official somewhere trying to ban it.

In general, seemingly with good reason.

Health and safety on one side, and environmental protection on the other.

Things like soil compaction and creating sterile 'dead' soils is a huge, huge problem.

Clarkson was not exaggerating in saying that we are actively turning our farmlands into actual deserts with our approaches to intensive arable production. Local salads producer does six crops a season, and is spraying twice (iirc) per crop.

In the off seasons, there are no weeds... That's not due to weedkiller. The soil simply cannot sustain plant life (let alone all the microbial and invertebrate life that makes up the abri-ecosystem) without external chemical additions.

[Supercilious Sid]

Smollet said:

rigga said:

Mikebentley said:

Are Kaleb and Gerald father and son? Gerald reminds me of when I first saw Hot Fuzz with the Police dog handler saying “Tharp”. I then worked in Gloucestershire and all became clear.

I asked previously ....not related.

I’d imagine Cooper is a pretty common name in rural agricultural areas

In the area I live it's a common gypsy name.

[TEKNOPUG]

Doofus said:

J4CKO said:

Main thing is an appreciation for farming, farmers and all the folk who work in the industry, that is a tough gig, hats off to you and well done JC for bringing that to the attention of the public, suspect this will do more for the perception of farmers and farming than anything before.

I fear that, to some, it will just reinforce the idea that farmers are minted landowners who are just mucking about for most of the time, whilst receiving subsidies from the Government to not grow crops.

It's all about scale. If you have a 1000acres in the Cotswolds, you can survive the vagaries of weather and prices, as your profits can absorb losses. If you farm 300acres in Wales, not so much.

[Chebble]

I’ve watched the first four episodes over the last few days. I’m really enjoying it - I’m unexpectedly finding it quite uplifting. I’ve just had cursory scan of Twitter and I’ve yet to see any negative reviews, which is odd for Twitter as it’s usually a critics paradise! Naturally there are a few on here, which isn’t altogether unexpected, but thats fine.

Clarkson has done some fantastic non-TG/GT work over the last few years, (Brunel, Arctic Convoys etc.) but this could be some of his best work yet. Caleb, Gerald, and Charlie all add to it as well. He does seem genuinely interested and invested in what he is doing and you can tell that he respects his far more experienced colleagues.

Great stuff. I hope there is a second series.

[Evanivitch]

Sway said:

In the off seasons, there are no weeds... That's not due to weedkiller. The soil simply cannot sustain plant life (let alone all the microbial and invertebrate life that makes up the abri-ecosystem) without external chemical additions.

That's rubbish. Weeds and wild flowers thrive in low nutrient soil.

Weedkiller will be used widely on the soil for years, meaning there are no dormant seeds left to grow, so it takes time for seed to either be carried in or blown into the field to grow again. In which time yet another crop is being prepared for.

Don't confuse productivity from fertiliser use with some doomsday scenario you've dreamt of.

[Condi]

robwilk said:

I thought this so googled Lambo tractor r8 for sale and there are two available in Germany for £42K and £45k

They're not a big name and not a particularly desirable machine. Something by Massey Ferguson, John Deere or New Holland would be worth more for that age/HP, but they also have a dealer network in the UK so when it breaks you don't need to use Google Translate to work out what has gone wrong...

[ChocolateFrog]

Watched it all now and I thought it was some of his best stuff.

It's great having come from Harry's Farm and actually understanding a little bit about farming and then seeing how Clarkson handled it. Even the OH was commenting on tram lines on the way up the A1 yesterday.

I thought the contrived stuff only stepped over the line once or twice, the telegraph pole falling over was quite obvious.

I hope there's a second series, it honestly didn't need to the weather and Covid drama to make it interesting for me.

[Blackpuddin]

J4CKO said:

Watched the first two last night, transfixed, even the wife who groans when she sees Jeremey Clarkson was chuckling away.

Its sort of like they have diluted him a little bit, he is still very much there but the other people, the scenery, the sheep and the enormity of the task at hand means it doesnt feel contrived and as oafish. Now I like Clarkson but can see how a lot don't but this really does show him in a better light, less of the ape and more of a him being, er, actually human.

He does seem to be putting his heart and soul into it, am fairly convinced its not all an act, obviously some stuff will be contrived but with sheep I dont think you need to, they are their own comedy.

It feels fresh where, though I still enjoyed it TG was getting a bit hackneyed and repetitive, seemed a bit weird at first but after one episode, hooked and it just seems so natural.

I bet some of those sniffy Guardian readers are secretly really enjoying it, how can you not enjoy that scenery and Jeremy getting booted by a sheep ?

Like the fact he has some ladies showing him the ropes and is listening and not being weird, the Tractor instructor lady and the shepherdess for example.

Main thing is an appreciation for farming, farmers and all the folk who work in the industry, that is a tough gig, hats off to you and well done JC for bringing that to the attention of the public, suspect this will do more for the perception of farmers and farming than anything before.

Totally agree with every part of that post.