Conacre has long been part of farming in Ireland but it is a poor land use mechanism. The consequences of conacre are stagnation, poor land care and inefficient farming.

Long-term leasing and other models are more progressive and result in better land use. These new arrangements can really work for both landowners and active farmers.

Recent budgets introduced incentives to encourage better land use models such as long-term leasing. Under long-term leasing, landowners can now earn up to €40,000 exempt from income tax per annum. In addition, the landowner can still qualify for Capital Gains Tax Retirement Relief providing relief from capital taxes on any sale or subsequent transfer of the land.

No such reliefs are available to landowners who operate conacre arrangements.

Leasing is simple and clean. There is no risk to land ownership; both the landowner and the farmer have a degree of certainty and security. We frequently see the benefit a long lease can provide to both parties. The farmer can plan and build their business, while the landowner sees their land improve and cared for. What we see with conacre is the complete opposite – short-term thinking and the land being abused.

Leasing may not suit in all circumstances, in which case there are a number of other progressive options.

Landowners may want to stay involved or active, at least in the short term. A young farmer may not be in a position to take on a significant lease. The Land Mobility Service (info@landmobility.ie) helps farmers, landowners and farm families with an array of different options.

Options such as partnerships, share-farming, share-milking, contract-rearing and other farm-to-farm arrangements have proven very successful in practice. These represent excellent alternatives to leasing.

Land Mobility Opportunities

A key element of the Land Mobility Service is matching people to opportunities. This is a brokerage service to find the ideal farmer match for you. Call 01-4199555 to speak with our specialist team and provide your details and preferred option. Confidentiality is assured. Qualified leads will be passed to you for further consideration.

Farms for Lease

  • MIDLANDS GRASS FARM, 210 acres in two adjacent blocks with beef cattle housing. Owner has stepped back from farming and is looking to engage with someone to develop and operate the farm either on a shared or long lease arrangement. The owner would be prepared to share in any development costs. This farm is good land and would be suitable for any enterprise. REFERENCE CR05
  • LIVESTOCK OPPORTUNITY KILKENNY Good Size traditional mid Kilkenny mixed farm with sucklers, cattle, sheep & tillage. Land Owner looking for an enthusiastic young trained farmer with skills and experience in livestock and grassland management to explore a collaborative farming arrangement. |REFERENCE TN09
  • Dairy Opportunity

  • NORTH WEXFORD DAIRY farmers looking to expand their business through Share Farming or Leasing arrangement on other dairy farm in the Wexford/south Wicklow area. Preferably a ready to go farm but all options considered. 35 years experience in managing own dairy herd. Property and livestock will be treated & maintained to the highest standard. References available from Teagasc, farm suppliers and people we currently have lease agreements with. Some of our current land leases have been in place for 25 years. | REFERENCE FL09
  • SIGNIFICANT DAIRY FARM in the north Cork/south Limerick Region. Farm has land block (paddocks, water infrastructure, and roadways) and infrastructure (cubicles, slurry storage, feed areas, calving area, calf shed, and milking parlour) for 250 cows. Owners are retiring and have started the process of disposing of cows. They would like to link up with a good dairy farmer (established or start up) with a view to establishing a long lease that would commence during the second half of 2018 or the start of 2019. The ideal collaborator will be a good dairy operator with a financially sound business plan and an ethos of respect and care for farmland and infrastructure. REFERENCE TX32.
  • DAIRY OPPORTUNITY MAYO near Claremorris. Dry Farm with 50 Hectares in one block, owner putting in dairy infrastructure. Owner looking for someone to work with him to develop a successful dairy business. | REFERENCE MT06.
  • CONTRACT HEIFER REARING

  • CONTRACT REARING SERVICE available in east Co. Clare. Can take up to fifty 1-2 year old heifers from late March to December 31st. Good husbandry skills. Operating paddock system with good grassland management on dry farm. Regular weighing’s can be provided. | REFERENCE NM06
  • CONTRACT REARER REQUIRED in the north Munster or south Leinster areas to rear thirty 0-1 year olds and twenty 1-2 year olds. 0-1’s would go out at 14 to 16 weeks old and all stock returned at end of their 2nd grazing season. Stock bull can be supplied for service. |REFERENCE PA07
  • CONTRACT REARER WANTED to rear 30 to 40 calves (40 one year olds). Owner will rear until weaned. Preferably south Leinster area but not essential. REFERENCE VT05
  • DAIRY FARMER SEEKS somebody to contract rear fifty 1-2 year old Friesian heifers from late March until October 2018. Munster/south Leinster area. | REFERENCE OK12
  • LOOKING TO RENT

  • QUALIFIED YOUNG FARMER looking to lease a farm. Either existing dairy farm or farm where owner would like to set up a new dairy enterprise would be suitable. Open to different types of arrangements. |REFERENCE MT07
  • YOUNG ENTHUSIASTIC DAIRY farmer looking to lease 60 acre plus block of land in the Munster or Leinster areas for minimum of 7 years. Preferably on existing dairy farm. Open to different types of arrangements. |REFERENCE OK13
  • LOOKING FOR GRASSLAND to rent for cattle and sheep in the Enfield/Kilcock and surrounding areas. 50 plus acres with maps required but anything considered. Land well looked after. |REFERENCE OH05
  • LOOKING FOR LAND to lease in Co. Cork. 40 acres plus, for beef enterprise, five year minimum lese, may consider tillage ground. |REFERENCE TX31
  • ALTERNATIVE ENTERPRISE OPPORTUNITY

  • UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR a young person interested in farming. Milking Sheep Enterprise 200 ewes together with sheep milking equipment. There is a guaranteed and good market for all sheeps milk to a cheesemaker in Co. Clare near Limerick. The owner wishes to step back and provide an opportunity to a young person with access to land and an interest plus knowledge of sheep and grass. | REFERENCE NM05