Brexit concerns and a milder winter decreased annual grass let values on the year. Most areas have seen lets back around 10% apart from Ayrshire, which saw lets fall only around £1/ac.

“We sold grass from £50/ac for permanent pasture, up to £200/acre. There were one or two new faces looking for grass and slightly more selling too. Prices are back to what we saw two years ago,” said Grant MacPherson, auctioneer at Dingwall Mart.

Brexit concern

“A bit of uncertainty as to what will be happening in the future is kicking in. Maybe Brexit is having an effect,” said David Erskine, auctioneer at Caledonian Marts in Stirling. “We are slightly back on the year, with our average sitting at £83/ac, which is £5/ac less than last year. In our area, permanent pasture is going for between £100/ac and 110/ac for well-drained and fenced land. Similar land was making £120/ac last year.”

Dumfries

“The prices here are back around 10-12% for our let stock fields. Our best places are making £140/ac, with fertiliser. We had two or three places that didn’t get let because they were asking for a bit too much,” said Harry Begg, auctioneer at Dumfries Mart. “We have seen a few Irish farmers coming across to let grass for stock in Dumfries. They either bring cattle with them or buy here.”

Ayrshire demand

“Pretty similar rates to last year in Ayrshire,” said Willie Hamilton, auctioneer at Craig Wilson. “Younger grass was a bit more expensive and older grass was cheaper. On average, we are back about £1/ac, letting land from £120/ac to £150/ac.”