There is strong demand for land to rent or lease all over the country, as farmers scramble for acres. “It’s like calving 300 cows in three weeks at the moment,” said Eamon O’Brien of CCM Property in Mitchelstown, Co Cork.

“Demand is as strong as ever, but the supply of land is down. Last year I had 2,500ac to let, this year less than 1,000,” he said.

Almost all of that land is for long-term leasing.

“Conacre is almost a thing of the past around here,” he added.

Tillage farmers are chasing bare ground, land without entitlements attached, while dairy farmers are looking for any suitable parcels.

“Grassland is freely making €300/ac and up to €350/ac,” added O’Brien, who has set a parcel for tillage for six years for €330.

Similar prices were reported across the southern half of the country for land in good heart.

Nitrates

“The nitrates directive has lads screaming for land,” according to John Stokes of REA Stokes & Quirke in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

Any parcel quickly sees multiple enquiries, with most demand again for bare ground.

“Prices are up since last year, and dairy farmers are driving the market, even for higher ground,” he said.

It’s a similar story in south Leinster, said David Quinn of Carnew.

“It’s a hot market, with dairy farmers wanting to lease the drivers, even in strong tillage areas.”

Young farmers with entitlements are a driver in the market in north Connacht, according to Carrick-on-Shannon auctioneer Joe Brady. Good land in north Roscommon is making €250 tops, but typically more land running into Leitrim is under €150/acre than over it.

“We have more farmers for less land this year. Young farmers are looking to lease, they make up about half of all enquiries.”

Forestry

“Forestry is still a big factor in Leitrim,” he said, with farmers unable to compete in sales of poorer-quality land against business interests investing in land for tree planting.

CAP reform and the uncertainty around entitlements is a factor affecting the market.

Mallow auctioneer Liam Mullins says some farmers are opting to sell entitlements now and lease their land. “I can get more for bare ground,” he said.

Where existing leases are expiring, in most cases they are being renewed. This is a common theme around the country.