A 120ac dairy farm near Watergrasshill in Co Cork is among the range of properties currently available for lease with CCM Property. The grassland farm at Coolequane is available on a seven-year lease. This property includes a 16-unit Dairymaster milking parlour with an 8,000l Packo bulk tank.

Included in the cattle accommodation is a new slatted unit with feed passage and 65 cubicle spaces. A further 46 older cubicle spaces are available in the yard along with a calf shed and further slurry storage.

Auctioneer Eamonn O’Brien says he has handled a lot of leases already ahead of the 2025 season across the east and north Cork areas and into south Tipperary, with deals ranging from €250/ac to €450/ac being completed.

Some new land on the open market is at the higher end of this but he has noticed that in some cases where the relationship is good, the landowner is either happy to continue at a similar price or is open to a modest renegotiation.

Panic on

“I completed leases in the last few days of blocks of 40ac to 50ac of old type grassland, no buildings and the BISS element is going back to the landowner and it looked as if it was expensive. There seems to be a panic on.

“Derogation and alternative energy are two drivers creating a lot of that demand.

“At the same time as these high prices, common sense is also prevailing. I’ve renewed some leases at €400/ac where the landowner liked the tenant and I’ve also renewed some long-term deals at figures the same as or a little over what was originally agreed, 10 or more years ago.”