Next week’s Irish Farmers Journal will include your free copy of the Agricultural Land Price Report 2023, our 17th edition. It will show that, after seven years of growth, farmland prices plateaued last year with average prices declining slightly. It will also outline the factors that put downwards pressure on land prices in 2023.

Behind the average price, there was great demand for prime, large farms and these fetched high prices in both public auctions and private treaty sales. Most of these top quality farms were bought by dairy farmers and business people. A number of large estates with period houses were purchased by international buyers. Prices rose in most dairy-dominated counties.

Land Report 2023.

But countering this, last year saw a large number of plainer farms and parcels of marginal land put on the market. This resulted in prices falling in some counties.

Price gap

The price gap widened between the top and bottom of the market.

Among other counties, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Tipperary, Wexford, Waterford and Westmeath saw prices increase. Prices fell in Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly and Roscommon, to name a few.

Our report will have analysis of prices in all counties in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and will look ahead at the outlook for 2024.

We will also examine the main factors which will impact agricultural land prices in the future, including what will happen if Ireland loses its Nitrates Derogation. Furthermore, we analyse how the new CAP direct payment schemes are impacting the market for land and entitlements. It also will explore the impact of renewable energy developments on land and outline the latest developments on long term land leasing.

The comprehensive 72-page Agricultural Land Report will be inserted in next week’s paper, on shelf on Thursday, 14 March.