Introduction

The new hit season of Clarkson’s farm has taken the world by storm hitting new UK viewing records for Amazon Prime. With it being described as ‘’a breath of fresh air’’, having a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 99% audience score, its safe to say that many viewers loved the show.

Clarkson’s Farm season 2 continues to highlight the important of sustainable farming practices and the need for farmers to adapt to ever changing environmental conditions. Through Jeremys trials and tribulations, the show portrays the challenges alongside the rewards of farming while emphasising the critical role that farmers play in preserving the natural world. This new season also showcases modern technologies and materials such as steel being utilised to improve efficiency and ensure the farms long term sustainability.

In this blog, we will explore how steel plays a crucial role in the new season of Clarkson’s Farm, including the construction of buildings, machinery, irrigation systems and fencing. Join me as we dive into the fascinating world of farming and steel and discover how unlikely combinations come together to create a successful and thriving farm within agriculture.

How steel is used within Clarkson’s Farm

 

 

Livestock Transportation and Fencing systems

Throughout the entire series, Jeremy is seen moving his farm animals through galvanised steel pens and systems alongside steel transportation methods such as cattle trailers.

Steel fencing systems offer a secure way to contain farm animals and holds more pressure than wood or other materials. Steel fencing systems are also customisable to suit each project and animal and are easy to install or move if necessary.

Another application where the properties of Steel are highlighted in in the construction of Livestock Transportation. Steel (painted or galvanised) is regularly used in agricultural trailers as it is strong enough to withstand the movement of farm animals and the harsh conditions on road or tractor paths. It is also weldable and in vehicles when damage from animals can occur this means trailers can be repaired and used for several years.

Cattle Crush

In the first episode of Clarkson’s Farm, Jeremy sets out to increase his annual revenue by turning his lamb barn into a restaurant. This restaurant will sell fresh meat straight from the farm including beef, lamb, and their own grown potatoes, with additional home-made gravy, mint sauce, horseradish and durum wheat pasta, a restaurant ‘’where everything you eat is consumed at Diddly Squat’’.  For this to happen, Jeremy and his team need to ensure a consistent supply of ingredients throughout Diddly Squat farm.

In episode 3, Jeremy discusses with the team the issues they are facing with female cows that are struggling to breed. That’s when we are introduced to a steel cattle crush. A cattle crush allows farm hands to work safely with the animals. Despite its name, this does not crush the cows but keeps them at a close fitting, ensuring safety for both the cattle and the staff.

These cattle crushes are made from high quality galvanised steel. Due to its durability, it can withstand the weight and pressure of large heavy animals like cattle and resist any pressure the cattle may put on the steel. As seen from episode 1 where the cattle escape the wooden fence, they are very strong animals and need heavy materials to be able to secure them. Steel cattle crushes are relatively low maintenance, requiring only occasional cleaning and inspection and can also resist rust and corrosion making it a long-lasting choice.

Farm Vehicles

If there’s one thing, we aren’t short of seeing throughout Clarkson’s Farm season 2, its tractors. Tractors for farming are used for ploughing, cultivating the soil and planting fields. Modern types of tractors can be used for a variety of tasks including s landscaping, moving or spreading fertilizer, and lawn maintenance. Tractors are an essential piece of machinery used in agriculture and construction and steel plays a heavy role in their manufacture and we get to take an inside look into this machinery in Clarkson’s Farm.

Tractors were shown working throughout the entirety of Clarkson’s Farm season 2. Jeremy used his tractors to plough and cultivate fields, transport equipment and materials and preform various other tasks around the farm. Tractors were one of the key pieces of machinery featured on the show and were often used to illustrate the challenges and rewards in farming.

One of they keyways that steel is used in tractors is in the construction of the frame and chassis. These are the backbone of the tractor, providing support for the engine, transmission, and other components. The steel helps handle the stress of these components and can resist bending, twisting, and warping, even under heavy loads.

At SPD we work closely with the Agricultural supply chain by supplying laser cut parts into the Specialist Vehicles for Tractors and other specialist farm vehicles.

Polytunnels and Barns

Now let’s go back to where we discussed Jeremy’s idea of opening a restaurant, in episode 2, we also learn that Jeremy wants to grow his own chillies to sell chilli chutney within the restaurant and the farm shop. We see Jeremy and Kaleb build two polytunnels out of steel components.

Polytunnels are structures used in agriculture to create a controlled environment for growing crops. They are often made of plastic or polyethylene, but steel is frequently used to create the main frame of the structure.  

Steel can help the tunnel to last up to 20 years, providing optimal growing environments for the chillies to thrive in.

Barns are another structure in agriculture that are used for storing grains, hay, livestock and many more. The inside of the Diddly Squat barns are constructed with steel structural sections. As seen throughout the show, a lot of time is spent within barns and needs to be just as comfortable for workers as the animals. Steel materials offer a design flexibility that wood materials lack. Steel makes it easier to modify features and be bent or cut into size required. At SPD we offer many services including cutting, bending, laser cut, drilling and more.

Another reason that steel is often used within agriculture barns is for pest control. In episode one, Jeremy talks about how cows are often at risk of catching tuberculosis from the badgers and harming badgers to protect livestock is not legal in the UK. Instead, making sure your barns are pest proof will help keep your cattle healthy. Badgers aren’t the only common visitor to barns but mice, rats and bats are also ones to watch out for.

Steel can resist the worse types of weather and are built to last compared to wooden barns that often come with significant maintenance concerns.

Conclusion

Clarkson’s farm sheds light on the importance of steel within modern farming practices. From the construction of sturdy buildings to the maintenance of machinery, steel is an essential material in the agricultural industry. Through his experience, Jeremy demonstrates the value of using high quality steel materials to ensure the longevity and efficiency of the farm and its equipment.

At SPD, we pride ourselves in being specialist suppliers to the agriculture and farming sector. We have over 20 depots nationwide with a highly experienced sales team on hand, ready to give advice and solutions, whatever the nature of your project. 

Contact the team here today to find out more!