The Diddly Squat Preview: Clarkson, Kaleb & Charlie’s Guide to Cereals

Hello and welcome back! I have a very special episode for you today—one that has been on my podcasting bucket list since the very beginning. I finally headed to Diddly Squat Farm to sit down with the team everyone knows and loves: Jeremy Clarkson, Kaleb Cooper, and Charlie Ireland.

With the massive Cereals event coming to the Cotswolds this year, I wanted to find out what it’s really like for Jeremy to play "host farmer" for 25,000 visitors. From digging trenches to study root structures to how the event caters to both new and experienced farmers, this conversation was exactly as lively, argumentative, and insightful as you’d expect!

On the menu today:

• The "Hobby Farming" Debate: Kaleb and Jeremy go head-to-head on the latest additions to the farm. Are two donkeys, a handful of pigs, and a two-acre herb garden a genius diversification move or just "hobby farming"? 🥕🐖
• Learning on the Job: Jeremy shares why every day is still a learning day for him—including the "math" of oilseed rape and his new-found appreciation for soil health.
• The Arable Reality: Charlie gives us a candid look at the challenges facing the industry over the next 12 months, from rising fuel costs to the volatility of the wheat markets.
• The Next Generation: We discuss why the "Clarkson effect" is so important for first-generation farmers. As someone who joined the industry from a non-farming background myself, I loved hearing the team's advice for anyone looking to make their mark in agriculture.

Exploring the Plots

After catching up with the team, I took a wander through the crop plots to chat with the experts on the ground. I caught up with Andrew Creasy from RAGT to talk about the future of wheat varieties and Lee Gilbert from Fowler & Gilbert, who shares his amazing journey from car mechanic to one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of agricultural buildings. 🏗️🌾

I also sat down with Sandy Kilpatrick to talk about the power of social media.

Whether you’re a lifelong farmer or just love a bit of Diddly Squat drama, grab a cuppa and join us for a proper look at life on the farm. The new episode is waiting for you now! ☕️🎧

Quick Links:

• Farm Fest Tickets: Use code LIZZIE for a discount!
• Follow the journey: Check out the videos from my day at Diddly Squat on Instagram @LizzyMuddyHeelsMac.

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: info@second-nature.co.uk

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac