Rising land prices across NI bring “real and growing pressures” for farmers, the president of Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said.

William Irvine said as land becomes more expensive, young farmers and farmers who want to expand can find it more difficult to access land.

Last week, the Irish Farmers Journal published its annual Land Price Report which found the average land price in NI rose by 3% last year to a new record high of £15,202/ac.

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Irvine pointed out that the rising market impacts “the paper value of farm assets” which can have implications for succession planning and inheritance tax calculations.

He also urged policy makers within DAERA to consider rising land prices and the impact that it has on farming.

“Environmental policy and future agri policy must be designed in a way that supports active farmers and does not inadvertently restrict land use or reduce land availability,” he said.

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