Jeremy Clarkson claims food is "far too cheap" in a scathing statement about the farming industry.
The presenter, 62, spoke about the industry ahead of the new series of Clarkson's Farm. The show is expected to return for its second series on Amazon Prime next week.
It focuses on Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire, which he runs. He has previously spoken about some difficulties in the profession, saying last year that he once almost quit.
Ahead of the show's new series, he has reiterated that there are rising costs involved with farming and has suggested that food is "far too cheap" at the moment.
Discussing difficulties facing the industry, Jeremy said that one issue, for example, for cereal farms like his own is the increased cost of fertiliser, as reported by the Express.
The presenter - known for Top Gear - said: "Fertiliser is now costing £1,000 a tonne rather than £200 like last year."
He suggested that farmers in various areas are experiencing a "nightmare," before indicating that he's in a more fortunate position as he has other ways of earning a living.
Jeremy said: "It's not a disaster for me because I've got other ways of earning a living but if you haven't – and 99.9 per cent of farmers don't have another income stream – then a lot of them are simply not taking a wage."
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He said about farmers: "They're living in their house, burning whatever it is the government says it's legal to burn that week to stay warm, and they're working seven days a week with their arm up a cow's bottom for nothing."
The outlet reports that Jeremy criticised people who "will not pay properly for their food". He said: "Food is far too cheap. I know you can't say that, but it's far too cheap."
He added: "If the Government said, 'Right, we're going to double the price of food,' they'd be out of office within five minutes. But that's what they've got to do, really."
Jeremy further commented: "I hope that people look at the waste each day. [...] Stop wasting any sort of food, and really take care of what you eat on a day-to-day."
He suggested, as an example, that any leftovers from a roast dinner can be used for a subsequent meal. He said: "Instead of throwing it away, make bubble and squeak."
It comes amid new figures suggesting that prices in shops are 8% higher than they were in January last year, according to the BRC-NielsenIQ Shop Price Index.
Whilst the Office for National Statistics' latest report states: "Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages in the UK rose by 16.9% in the year to December 2022."
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