Jeremy Clarkson’s hit farming show is making land-management courses more popular among young people, agricultural colleges have said.
Applications for the Royal Agricultural University’s (RAU) three-year rural land management BSc course have risen by 11 per cent compared to last year, according to The Times.
Demand for the same course with a farm placement is up 18 per cent and interest in the university’s two-year rural land management foundation degree has risen by 14 per cent.
Daniella Miles, head of student recruitment at the RAU, said programmes such as Clarkson’s Farm were having a noticeable effect.
She told The Times: “It seems to be spreading much further than ‘I can do farming’, as it’s an interest in all the other courses and roles involved in farming that is increasing as well.”
Charlie Ireland, a land agent referred to by Clarkson as “Cheerful Charlie” who plays a prominent role in the Amazon Prime programme, is said to have had a particular impact.
Prospective farming students are especially impressed with land agent Charlie Ireland, centre – Prime Video
Andrew Black, who teaches the Land & Property Management course at Harper Adams University, said: “The impact of Charlie’s role in Clarkson’s Farm is far more wide-reaching – and we are starting to see a ripple effect in numbers of students enrolling on our open days as a result.
“What I really appreciate about Charlie’s role in the show is his no-nonsense approach and his broad, expert knowledge on the complexities of key areas of professional practice a land agent would come into contact with, including planning laws, agricultural management, budgeting, finance, construction, property law, machinery purchasing, valuation and negotiation.
“One of the greatest things about being a land agent is one day is never the same as the next and you are required to think on your feet and work through problems.
“The career of a land agent is hugely rewarding in making a positive difference and the demand for new entrants into the industry has never been higher.”
Viewers enjoy Clarkson’s interactions with farmhand Gerald Cooper – Prime Video
Data released in 2024 by Ucas, the university and college admissions body, showed the number of applicants accepted on to agricultural courses was up by 8 per cent on the year before.
There had been nearly a 20 per cent rise in applications from 18-year-olds to agriculture, food and other related degrees to more than 9,400 from around 7,900 in 2019.
At the time, James Eckley, chief officer of the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, told the Daily Mail that Clarkson’s Farm was very popular with his members.
He said: “It has brought the countryside and farming to the public’s attention.”
Jeremy Kerswell, principal of the Plumpton College, in East Sussex, said that while Clarkson had driven interest in farming, the sector’s growth predated the former Top Gear presenter’s involvement.
He told The Times: “There’s a lot of very good educational practice happening across the country in agriculture and allied sectors. And I’m aware that agricultural student numbers are increasing.”
Clarkson’s Farm, which first aired in 2021, shows its protagonist attempting to run Diddly Squat, a 1,000-acre farm near Chipping Norton.
Thanks to its success, Clarkson was named the 2021 Farming Champion of the Year by the National Farmers’ Union.