Great series and season. Takeaways for me were the mind boggling red tape and environmental regulations that shoot down the supposed "help farmers help themselves" mentality that the government was supposed to have. Now, its obvious that the council has it in for Clarkson for being him, it's unlikely that anyone else would have had so many denials (which Charlie mentions too), but at the same time, if they did, it's also obvious how helpless it would make an independent farmer without independent wealth outside of the farm. However, the fact that the council also blocked several struggling farms getting an extra income just "because" is kind of mental.
The first season put a good spotlight on some struggles farming has and how big an impact it can have on their business, especially the weather. I think this series also put more focus on the things that people might not even think about are "problems". The insane over regulation and bureaucracy that has grown into our governments and the widespread effect they have. Rules and regulations for everything, so while it's nice for politicians to get their sound bites saying they encourage farmers to "diversify" that doesn't help at all when there is so much red tape that already struggling farmers would have a slim to no chance in doing any diversification or have any new ideas for their farms to make a profit.
This series hopefully shines a light on that which goes further up the chain.
The whole badger problem was crazy to me. Farmers not only losing their yield and produce, but actual risking their entire farms, and costing tax payers 150+ million per year.
Looking it up
"Are badgers endangered in the UK?
European badgers (Meles meles) are not an endangered species, but they are amongst the most legally protected wild animals in the UK, being shielded under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats."