SCSI/Teagasc Agricultural Land Market Review and Outlook Report 2026 

At provincial level rental prices are expected to rise by 3% on average in both Leinster and Munster and by 5% in Connacht / Ulster.

The main findings:

• National average farmland sales prices and rental prices forecast to rise by 4% in 2026
• Average national price for good quality agricultural land in 2025 is €14,126 an increase of 7% on 2024
• Average national price for poor quality agricultural land was €6,963 per acre up 5%
•  The most expensive land overall is in Wexford where the average price of an acre of good quality land is €19,226
• The least expensive land is in Leitrim where the average price of an acre of poor-quality land is €3,772
• Last year average land rental prices increased by 2% in Leinster, 17% in Munster and 18% in Connacht / Ulster
• Report says the outlook for agriculture is significantly more challenging this year due to uncertainty and higher input costs caused by war in Middle East
• “Elevated costs are likely to persist this year and into next year with farmers expected to adopt a more cautious approach towards land purchase”
• Teagasc says the war highlights the extent to which Irish agriculture remains exposed to global supply chains and external economic shocks

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

However, while land prices are expected to continue on a steady upwards trajectory, the outlook this year is notably 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.

Meanwhile, the average national price for poor quality agricultural land was €6,963 per acre, an increase of 5% on the previous year.

National and Regional Land Sales Prices

This year’s annual survey, the thirteenth in the series, provides a county-by-county breakdown of the prices of good and poor-quality land. (See attached County by County Map of Ireland and Provincial Tables for detailed breakdown of figures across land type and holding size)

The survey found that Wexford has the most expensive land in the country with an average price of €19,226 per acre across the three main size holding categories. This was just ahead of Kildare on €19,200.

Leitrim has the lowest average poor quality land prices at €3,772 per acre across the three holding sizes.

At a provincial level Leinster has the highest average land prices with good quality land fetching €16,603 per acre up 9%, while the average price for an acre of poor-quality land remained unchanged at €8,344.

In Munster average prices remained stable with an acre of good quality land fetching €15,404 an acre while the average price for an acre of poor-quality land is €6,868.

While prices are lower on average in Connacht / Ulster, the region recorded the strongest annual growth rates. Good quality land averaged €10,372 per acre, representing a 17% increase while poor quality land averaged €5,677 per acre, a 20% increase. Roscommon, Donegal and Monaghan were the counties which recorded the largest price increases.

Spotlight – Holdings less than 50 acres

On holdings less than 50 acres, Kildare had the most expensive land at €19,100 per acre, with Tipperary second on €18,779 and Meath in third place at €18,364, just ahead of Carlow on €18,300. In Wexford, the average price of good quality land on holdings of less than 50 acres is €18,260 per acre; while rounding off the top six places is Laois on €17,750.

In Leinster, sales prices for good land in 2025 on holdings of less than 50 acres range from Kildare’s high of €19,100 – up from €18,680 the previous year – to €11,625 in Longford, while the prices for poor-quality land range from a high of €11,063 in Meath to €6,000 in both Offaly and Longford.

In Munster, sales prices for good quality land on holdings under 50 acres range from €18,779 in Tipperary to €11,333 in Clare. Prices for poor quality land ranged from an average of €8,750 in Cork to €6,250 in Limerick.

In Connacht/Ulster, sales prices for good land on holdings under 50 acres ranged from an average of €14,750 per acre in Monaghan to €8,167 in Leitrim. Prices for poor quality land ranged from an average of €7,125 in Cavan – up from €6,500 – to €3,675 per acre in Leitrim, the lowest price in the country for holdings under 50 acres.

Land Rental Prices

In Leinster (excluding Dublin), land rental prices remained relatively stable overall. Land used for grazing/meadowing/silage increased slightly to €299 per acre – an increase of 2% – while land used for grazing only remained broadly unchanged. Rental values for cereal crop land declined by 4% to €306 per acre, while land used for other crops such as maize sugar beet and beans, recorded a strong increase of 9% to €383 per acre.

By contrast, Munster recorded substantial increases across most land uses, reflecting strong demands for land in the region. Land for grazing/meadowing/silage increased by 19% to €350 per acre, while grazing-only land rose by 17%. Cropping land also recorded strong growth, with rental values for cereal crops increasing by 23% and potato land increasing by 27%, indicating particularly strong demand for specialised crop production land.

In Connacht / Ulster rental values for grassland increased significantly with grazing / meadowing / silage land rising by 18% to €245 per acre and grazing only land also increasing by 18% to €210 per acre.

Land Market Outlook 2026

Dr. Frank Harrington, Chair of the SCSI’s Rural Agency and Discipline Lead of Real Estate and Valuations at TU Dublin, says strong demand for agricultural land coupled with continued low supply is underpinning strong prices.

“According to the Central Statistics Office the share of agricultural land, which transacts for sale annually is only around 0.5% of agricultural area. Not surprisingly therefore this report finds that succession and probate sales are among the most common sources of land coming to market. In a competitive market dairy farmers continue to be identified by agents as 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 emerging constraints that are increasingly influencing decision making across the sector. Price volatility, rising input costs, regulatory requirements and wider geopolitical uncertainty are now central considerations for many farmers as they plan for the future.”

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

Dr Harrington said 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 nontraditional 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 with purchasers from Northern Ireland active in the market for both farming and investment purposes. These buyers were noted to have strong purchasing capacity.”

“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.”

Dr Harrington says that while 2025 was a strong year overall for the market, this year will be more challenging with 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.”

Agricultural Outlook 2026

Teagasc economist, Dr. Jason Loughrey, says that while agricultural performance last year was strong overall, particularly in the dairy and cattle sectors, 2026 will be significantly more challenging.

“Last year, cattle enterprises recorded exceptional performance, with finished cattle prices rising by 39% and weanling prices increasing by 70%. Dairy farm profitability also improved, supported by higher milk prices – up 3% – and increased production – up almost 5% – with only modest increases in production costs. Sheep sector margins strengthened modestly, with higher lamb prices helping to offset rising input costs.”

“However, the outlook for Irish agriculture in 2026 is significantly more challenging, with unfavourable weather conditions, rising input costs, softer output prices and increased uncertainty expected to place pressure on farm profitability. Disruptions to energy markets arising from the US-Israeli war with Iran have contributed to increases in fuel, fertiliser, machinery hire and other input costs, with knock-on implications for farm profitability.”

“While the impact of higher prices will affect all parts of the economy, the impact on agriculture will be particularly acute given the large share of the costs of production on Irish farms that are directly or indirectly tied to energy and fertiliser prices. While the outcome and duration of the war remain uncertain, it is likely that elevated fertiliser and energy prices will persist through 2026 and into 2027. These developments also highlight the extent to which Irish agriculture remains exposed to global supply chains and external economic shocks.”

“In addition, dairy margins are expected to decline substantially in 2026, as lower milk prices and higher fertiliser, fuel and feed costs reduce profitability relative to 2025. Overall, Irish dairy margins net margins could be in excess of 50% lower compared to last year as a result of lower prices and higher costs. Beef sector incomes are expected to moderate, although prices are forecast to remain above long‑term averages. Sheep producers face increasing cost pressures, with higher feed and fertiliser costs weighing on margins despite some recovery in lamb prices.”

A key feature of this year’s report is the inclusion of a special analysis on risk in Irish agriculture, with particular focus on dairy farming.

“Dairy farmers in Ireland are operating under increasing risk and uncertainty with commodity price movements and rising production costs leading to higher farm income volatility. Insights from Teagasc NFS data indicates that dairy farmers consider these market risks as being highly important in affecting their farm. At the same time, almost one-third of dairy farmers in Ireland consider personal risks as being most important with such risks including those related to farm succession, health and farm safety. In addition, approximately one-quarter of farmers consider institutional risks as most important including risks associated with policy changes and environmental obligations. Understanding how these risks translate into land market outcomes is essential for informed decision making, and this analysis provides valuable insight at a time of heightened uncertainty” Dr Loughrey concluded.

The full report and its digital dashboard are available here