High land prices will limit numbers entering farming

LABOUR TD Michael D Higgins has highlighted the difficulties for expanding farmers and young entrants to farmers posed by the farmland price rise, now running way above the level of general inflation, who wish to expand or for persons who wish to enter farming for the first time.

Replying in the Dail , Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan pointed out that inheritance, generally within families, is the major means by which land changed ownership.

She confirmed that farm land prices more than doubled in the past seven years, reflecting a shortage of land on the market and growing demand from agricultural and non-agricultural buyers.