A row broke out between TV presenter Chris Packham and Jeremy Clarkson following comments Mr Packham made on Celebrities about the illustrated introduction to Clarkson’s Farm.
After watching the Amazon Prime series, Mr Packham said of the animation: “The farm doesn’t look right. Most farms are terrible monocultures, sprayed with deadly chemicals… the ground is pumped with fertilizer and most of the animals are kept indoors, caged, crushed and kept in the dark.”
See also: NFU challenges Packham’s ‘misleading’ claims on Dartmoor grazing
Mr Clarkson hit back in his latest Sun a column which described Mr Packham as “endlessly angry” and pointed out that the episode was a “drawing”.
He also recalled Mr Packham visiting Diddly Squat in 2012 to birdwatch and forage.
He added that if the animals had been “caged and crushed”, he was sure the naturalist would have raised concerns.
Strong reaction
Mr Packham’s comments sparked a strong reaction from the farming community on Instagram.
One commentator, @therural_rebel, accused Mr Packham of “spreading a hateful agenda”, insisting that “most farms are not monocultures” and rejecting claims that livestock were kept in the conditions he described.
Meanwhile, Countryside Alliance’s Mo Metcalfe-Fisher praised Clarkson Farm for demonstrating the realities of modern agriculture and highlighting the work farmers do to produce food while caring for the countryside.
Agricultural commentator @agrispec_tom also disputed Mr Packham’s remarks, saying they ignored decades of progress in animal welfare, environmental management and production efficiency.