Clarkson weighs up driverless tractor in exclusive video peek

Robot tractors, farming protests and a first-ever trip abroad for Kaleb Cooper feature in the latest series of Clarkson’s Farm, which returns to Amazon Prime Video on 3 June.

Series five finds Jeremy Clarkson looking at ways to reduce the workload at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, after a major health scare prompts him to reassess how he farms.

See also: Clarkson’s Farm Season 5 official trailer drops

Kaleb Cooper with farm droid onion seed planting device © Tania Gonzalez-Ruiz/Amazon Prime Video

One option under consideration is greater automation. An exclusive clip shared with Farmers Weekly shows Mr Clarkson discussing plans for driverless farming equipment with farm adviser “Cheerful” Charlie Ireland, introducing a storyline that runs through much of the new series.

The opening episodes follow Mr Clarkson as he recovers from a heart procedure and searches for ways to make life on the farm less physically demanding.

That leads him into the world of agricultural technology, with autonomous machinery, robotics and precision farming systems becoming an increasingly prominent part of operations at Diddly Squat.

Kaleb unconvinced

Kaleb Cooper, Lisa Hogan, Jeremy Clarkson and Gerald Cooper © Tania Gonzalex-Ruis/Amazon Prime Video

However, Diddly Squat farming contractor and Clarkson’s Farm star Kaleb Cooper remains unconvinced.

Concerned that automation could reduce the need for traditional farm skills, he repeatedly clashes with Mr Clarkson over the merits of new technology.

Their differing views provide one of the central themes of the series, with Kaleb jokingly comparing the developments to a real-life version of Terminator.

The technology focus extends beyond Diddly Squat Farm when Kaleb travels abroad for the first time to see how farmers elsewhere are adopting new systems and machinery.

The trip exposes him to farming practices that are more advanced in some areas than those typically found in the UK.

Additional challenges

Away from the farm, the Farmer’s Dog pub continues to present its own challenges.

The opening episodes follow efforts to attract customers through a series of events and promotions while dealing with the day-to-day realities of running a rural hospitality business.

The series also touches on wider issues affecting the industry.

Mr Clarkson and members of the Diddly Squat team join frustrated farmers in London protesting against proposed changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief announced by the government in the October 2024 Budget.

Those concerns reflect broader pressures facing the sector. Speaking ahead of the series launch, Mr Ireland said many arable businesses have faced a difficult year, citing profitability and cashflow challenges following difficult weather conditions.

Mr Clarkson said he believes the programme has helped improve public understanding of farming and the challenges facing agricultural businesses.

“If we had predictable weather and a sensible government, farming would be easy, but because we have neither, it isn’t,” he added.

While the series retains the humour and mishaps viewers have come to expect, the latest season places a stronger focus on technology, farm economics and some of the pressures currently facing the wider industry.

Episodes one to four will be released on 3 June on Amazon Prime Video, with the remaining episodes rolling out across the following two weeks.