Agricultural land values grew by an average 5.3% year-on-year to a weighted average of €13,528 per acre, the latest Sherry FitzGerald Agricultural Land Barometer review shows.
The report found that prime and marginal grassland were key drivers of market growth over 12-month period to June.
Farmland averaged €16,896/acre in the mideast, the most expensive region in the country, with prime grassland in this area being the most expensive farmland type at the end of June, at a 12-month rolling average value of €19,313/acre.
While land was cheapest in the west, at an average price of €9,758/acre, marginal grassland witnessed the strongest increases across land types, the report reveals.
Strong growth
Border and west regions recorded the strongest growth during H1 2026 at 8.0% and 7.8% respectively, with growth in average land values in the border region outpacing that of all other regions in recent years.
The 12-month rolling average land values grew by 28% over the past two years in this region, significantly ahead of 17% to 18% increases recorded for the mideast, west and midwest regions.
In contrast, during the previous two-year period, the border region had one of the lowest growth rates in farmland values at 17%, while the strongest was in the midlands at a substantial 42%.
Outlook
Commenting on the market outlook, Philip Guckian, sales director with Sherry FitzGerald said: "Despite growing economic headwinds and pressure on farm incomes, the limited availability of land continues to underpin values and support market resilience."
He added that while the recent dry weather, reduced rainfall and slower grass growth is a concern in some regions and "may temper sentiment in the short term, the scarcity of land coming to the market is likely to remain the dominant factor supporting values”.
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