The year 2016 was difficult for farmers, but as the year progressed, farmgate prices and incomes generally improved, mainly on the back of a reduction in the value of sterling against the euro as a result of the UK vote to leave the EU. That also resulted in a significant £39m boost in EU direct payments to farmers. With the banks and lending institutions generally supporting farmers through the period of low farmgate prices, confidence in the industry was maintained.This confidence enabled farmers and businesspeople to do some good deals in the land market and our survey shows that land values have increased by 8% compared to the previous year. The increase was common across the country with the exception of the west, where in Fermanagh, land prices eased back.