Land prices remain high

摘要

More dairy farms are coming onto the market, but there seems to be no slackening in demand from potential buyers. Prue Eggington reports. The continued rise in the price of milk quota has encouraged some dairy farmers to take a close look at the valueof their assets. Taken in conjunction with land values - now running at a higher rate than at any time since the 1980s property boom - it is hardly surprising that some farmers are taking the decision to cash in on the current buoyant situation and sellboth their quota and their land. In recent years, the dairy industry has proved itself one of the more profitable sectors of UK agriculture and consequently dairy farmers have had little incentive to sell farms. The resultant shortage of the past two or three years has boosted demand and helped push prices upwards. But while the number of farms coming forward for sale this year is definitely up on 1994, plenty of potential buyers remain in the market, provided the price is right, agents says.