Jeremy Clarkson criticises ‘anti-farming’ government
5th January 2026
Jeremy Clarkson has criticised what he calls an “actively anti-farming” government but said that farmers have a chance to unite and find solutions when they gather at a pivotal Cereals event on his Diddly Squat Farm next year.
Speaking during the recording of a recent Cereals podcast sponsored by Premium Crops, Mr Clarkson pledged he would not walk away from farming despite the challenges ravaging the sector.
He said: “It’s absolute hell now for farmers; we have an actively anti-farming government who are making things extremely tricky for us all. I’m genuinely really cross, as there’s no-one in government who understands farming.”
The Cereals Event will be held at Clarkson’s Diddly Squat farm on 10th and 11th June 2026 and is expected to include 550 exhibitors and 25,000 farmers, farm contractors and agronomists. The event is exclusively for the farming community, and Mr Clarkson hopes it will be a key moment for the agriculture sector’s fight against government policy.
He continued: “We have got to get together and do something about this government. This is why I’m looking forward to Cereals, as we’ll be able to share ideas. To have an event like Cereals where we can come together and chat is crucial. This is where the ideas we need will come from and can be exchanged.”
‘It’s about having confidence to invest in the future’
Charlie Ireland added: “It’s not only a challenge for farmers at the minute; it’s a challenge for all businesses because nobody has any confidence. It’s about having confidence to invest in the future, and farmers and businesses don’t have that at the minute.
“I believe Cereals will be a chance to pump a bit of life and fun into the sector. Just sitting down and burying your head in the sand is never the right thing to do in business. To be able to offer an event like Cereals where there will be some proactive decision-making is going to be hugely positive for the sector.
“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. Cereals is only going to help build on that collaboration.”
Mr Clarkson and Mr Ireland discussed the hardships farmers constantly endure and also reflect on the huge challenges Diddly Squat has faced in recent years, revealing the only good harvest the farm has seen in five years was the one year the cameras weren’t rolling.
Mr Clarkson explained: “The last five years have just been nuts; we’ve gone from one extreme to the other with the weather. The only good harvest we’ve had was the one year we weren’t filming.”
‘Farming is a lonely existence’
The farmer and TV presenter hopes that Cereals will be an opportunity for farmers to overcome the isolation they are feeling and the stress of farming in the current climate.
He concluded: “We joke, but farming is a lonely existence. 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. They will make no money this year and then have to think how they will pay for the seed and fertiliser next year on their own.
“Events like Cereals are really important for farmers to be able to come together and overcome that isolation and worry. I’m very lucky as I’m surrounded by people all day, and, realistically, I could just walk away. But, I will not walk away.”
Highlights at Cereals in 2026, which is co-hosted by Freuhauf, will include an Agronomy Zone, informational and technical features like the Seed to Shelf Stage sponsored by KWS, the BASE-UK Regenerative Ag Stage sponsored by Tees Law, a Young Farmers Programme sponsored by Michelmores, and the Syngenta & CropLife Sprays & Sprayers Arena, and other working demonstrations.
This year will also see a new Livestock Zone sponsored by Nofence alongside an expanded Crop Protection & Nutrition area that will include Organic Agronomy.
Visitors can also socialise in networking areas, which include stands from the Diddly Squat Farm Shop, Hawkstone Bars, The Farmer’s Dog and more. The event will feature Jeremy’s Hops and Harmony Bar sponsored by V12, Kaleb’s Korner sponsored by Nick Young and Gerald’s Gin Joint featuring Hawkstone Gin.
Farmers can now register for tickets at here, applicable trades can also enquire online about exhibiting at the event.
This is a business-to-business event, and so registrations will go through an approval process. For more information, visit Cereals website.
READ MORE: Find out how to book your tickets for Cereals 2026 at Diddly Squat Farm
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