Jeremy Clarkson has embraced the future of farming with a remarkable new acquisition at Diddly Squat Farm, leading to an unexpected change in his nightly routine with girlfriend Lisa Hogan.
In his Sunday Times column, the former Top Gear host revealed he’s added an AgBot T2 to his farming arsenal—an advanced, autonomous tractor that he calls “the coolest machine in the world.” This state-of-the-art vehicle is designed to work independently, revolutionizing how he manages the 200 acres dedicated to growing pasta and planting seeds each year.
Clarkson, now 65, described the challenges of cultivating the land using traditional methods: “It takes me 30 hours in a bouncy tractor” to prepare the fields. The arrival of this nine-tonne, track-driven tractor, powered by a 156-horsepower diesel engine combined with an electric generator, promises efficiency with less soil damage thanks to its innovative design.
While the investment has left some locals nostalgic for the romance of old farming traditions—comparable to the shift from horse-drawn plows to tractors in the 1920s—Clarkson insists progress is necessary. He likens this modernization to preferring the convenience of an iPhone over the charm of a red phone box, no matter how iconic the latter may be.
Despite enthusiasm from Clarkson, others like his contractor Kaleb have voiced concerns about job security, although Jeremy humorously suggested that using two tractors simultaneously could mean more work, not less.
Perhaps most intriguingly, the AgBot has also influenced Clarkson’s personal life. He shared a quirky new bedtime habit: “Every night for the past week I’ve climbed into bed and made Lisa watch a feed from the AgBot’s cameras as he trundles along in the darkness.” While Lisa finds this habit dull and wonders why he doesn’t simply watch something more conventional, Clarkson admits it makes him feel “all warm and fuzzy,” blending his passion for farming with intimate downtime.
With the AgBot now set to undertake precision-drilling autonomously, Clarkson is “genuinely excited to see if the investment pays off,” embracing innovation even if it means redefining both work and play on the farm.