Average price of good land at €14,917 an acre, according to Teagasc report

SCSI auctioneers and valuers forecast that prices of agricultural land and rental values are expected to increase by 4% on average this year.

In a report with Teagasc, auctioneer, and valuer members of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI), operating in the agricultural sales and rental market say prices are underpinned by strong demand and continued scarcity of available land.

Dillon Murtagh of Murtagh Bros in Mullingar, a member of the SCSI Rural Agency Committee, said: “According to the Central Statistics Office, the share of agricultural land that transacts for sale annually is only around 0.5% of agricultural area. Not surprisingly, therefore, this report finds succession and probate sales are among the most common sources of land [for sale].

“In a competitive market, dairy farmers are the most active buyer group in the agricultural land market, followed by dry stock farmers and tillage farmers. While favourable conditions in the dairy and beef sectors supported increased sales activity during 2025, the report also highlights that price volatility, rising input costs, regulatory requirements and wider geopolitical uncertainty are central considerations as farmers plan for the future.

“Farm consolidation is an ongoing trend, and that reflects the operational efficiencies and long-term security larger holdings can provide within modern farming systems. Allied to that is the growing importance of long-term leasing, which has become a central pillar of the agricultural land market.”

Mr Murtagh says regional variations remain pronounced. “While Leinster continues to record the highest average land values, Connacht and Ulster experienced the strongest growth in 2025, reflecting a combination of previously lower value levels, changing demand patterns and the influence of non-traditional buyers in some areas.

“SCSI members reported demand for poorer and marginal land has been supported in some areas by forestry-related activity. In border counties such as Monaghan and Donegal, agents also reported evidence of cross border demand as purchasers from Northern Ireland are active in the market for both farming and investment purposes. Those buyers were noted to have strong purchasing capacity.

Mr Murtagh says that while 2025 was a strong year overall for the market, this year will be more challenging thanks to increased uncertainty expected to pressure farm profitability. “Energy and fertiliser prices have increased sharply driven by the war in the Middle East. The heightened risks and uncertainty are expected to influence land market behaviour, with farmers adopting a more cautious approach to land purchases.”

“The relatively modest percentage increases in land values in Munster may reflect a period of stabilisation following strong increases recorded in 2020 and 2024 and the rising input costs and risks in the sector.”

While land prices are expected to continue on a steady upwards trajectory, the outlook is more cautious than in recent years.

SCSI auctioneers and valuers say their caution reflects uncertainty over output prices, rising costs and broader economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

The report finds that disruptions to energy markets arising from the US Israeli war with Iran have contributed to increases in fuel, fertiliser and other input prices across Europe with knock-on implications for agricultural production costs and farm profitability.

The report found that the average national price for good quality agricultural land in 2025 was €14,126, an increase of 7% on the previous year. The average national price for poor quality agricultural land was €6,963 per acre, an increase of 5% on the previous year.

This year’s annual survey, the 13th in the series, provides a county-by-county breakdown of the prices of good and poor-quality land. It found that Wexford has the most expensive land in the country at an average price of €19,226 per acre across the three main size holding categories, just ahead of Kildare on €19,200.

The average price of an acre of good quality land across all holding in Westmeath is €14,917, which is above the national average of €14,126 but below the Leinster average.

Leinster has the highest average land prices, good quality land at €16,603 per acre up 9%, and poor-quality land remained unchanged at €8,344.