When an individual brings a piece of ground to an auctioneer with the hopes to sell, the first question that an auctioneer will ask is: “Who is outside your ditch?”

With all the complexities involved with selling land and the numerous factors which influence it, one thing can be sure, if you have two or three interested farmers around, land can make a good price.

However the 177-acre farm in Aghamore near Kinnegad in Co Westmeath does not have such luck.

Speaking with auctioneer Edmund King of King Auctioneers, local demand for this farm has not been there.

A price of €900,000 or just over €5,000/ac has been placed on the farm in recent days as bids on the property have risen since individuals have returned from their Christmas break

The farm has instead relied on its raw potential to attract both farmers and investors from around the country. And attract it has.

A price of €900,000 or just over €5,000/ac has been placed on the farm in recent days as bids on the property have risen since individuals have returned from their Christmas break.

Included in the list of interested parties is a dairy farmer from Limerick and two investors from Dublin, ensuring the financial calibre of those interested is high.

Offered by private treaty, the first bid was €800,000 or €4,500/ac. With the guide €1.2m or €6,800/ac, proceeding are moving along nicely.

King is hopeful of having the sale closed off by the end of January.

An aerial photo of the 180-acre farm at Aghamore, Kinnegad Co Westmeath.

The farm

Consisting of 177 acres located at the end of a cul de sac on the Killucan Road, the farmland has a wealth of potential.

Leased for the previous five years, the land could do with investment in the form of re-seeding, lime and fertiliser as well as fencing in parts, though for the majority the fencing is quite good King informed Irish Country Living.

All in one block, it is divided into roughly 18 fields of varying sizes. There is evident quality here.

The aerial photo shows some heavier ground towards the back of the farm, but the majority is good quality.

Described as ‘free-draining sandy soil’ by King, the agent said it would be ideally suited to a dairy enterprise. Sheep winter grazed the paddocks throughout the end of last year, ensuring it maintained as well as it can be. Cattle have also been housed this winter.

The yard

The yard area consists of a large slatted shed that can facilitate over 150 head of stock. The central feeding passage increases the practicality of the shed and outside in the yard there are two large silage slabs.

A cattle pen and accompanying crush is located in front of the slatted shed while a two-bay hay shed and sheep dipping tank make up the balance of the buildings.

The yard area needs to be cleaned and investment is required to restore it to its former glory. Its location within the farm is ideal for a dairy farmer willing to invest in new or upgraded facilities. A bit of effort in the yard area would certainly be needed however.

The sale

Offered by private treaty, King has certainly gotten his hands on a potentially lovely farm. The national interest shows that this is not going unnoticed.