Dairy farmers may be less of a force in the land market in 2026 and, in contrast, drystock farmers may buy more land.

These are among conclusions to be drawn from the Irish Farmers Journal Agricultural Land Price Report 2025.

Milk prices have fallen while costs remain high. The nitrates derogation lives on for another three years, lessoning the pressure to acquire more land. As a result, auctioneers are now wondering if dairy farmers will be as active in bidding this year.

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Thousands of cattle farmers, on the other hand, have been getting once-in-a-lifetime prices for weanlings and beef cattle, giving a much-needed boost to confidence. Some will take the plunge and buy more land.

Aside from this, the consensus is that the land market will be more or less steady in 2026. The economy continues to perform well, despite growing international uncertainty. As a result, part-time farmers and business owners can be expected to be as keen as ever to acquire land of their own.

No big increase in supply of land for sale is expected. Older landowners will farm on and claim EU payments, or if they retire, look at long-term leasing.

The report found the market to be relatively steady in 2025, with a modest increase in average price per acre. Prices rose strongly in seven counties, fell in four counties and was more or less steady in the others. Prices ranged from €26,129/ac in the dearest county which was Dublin to a low of €6,075/ac in Leitrim.

Supply struggled to match the year before. It was tightest in the east of the country, more plentiful in Connaught, where prices tend to be lower. Many of the farm sales in 2025 were conducted by farmers’ children who have chosen to follow other careers.

Prices in Northern Ireland also rose modestly. Northern Irish buyers continue to be active buyers in the south and in border counties.