Hodnett Forde property services have recently put a pair of farms on the market in west Cork that demonstrate the contrast in land type in the area.

A noted dairy area, a good year in terms of milk price in 2022 and the introduction of nitrates banding have combined to set the land market alight in the early months of 2023.

Kilscohanagh

First up is the larger of the two holdings on offer which consists of a 68-acre grass land non-residential farm at Kilscohanagh, Drimoleague, Co Cork. Set in a farming heartland, it is within 10 minutes’ drive of Drinagh Co-op’s headquarters and about 4.5km southwest of Drimoleague and 12km from Skibbereen.

The land at Kilscohanagh is all in one natural division.

For sale by private treaty, the land is laid out in one natural division and benefits from extensive dual road frontage on its eastern and western boundaries.

With the exception of just under three acres of wooded area, the farm is all on one side of the road. Guiding it at €600,000, auctioneer John Hodnett said: “This is a great opportunity to acquire a substantial quality farm holding. It’s currently laid out in old pasture, however it will require reseeding and some drainage.”

There are no livestock handling facilities, but CAP entitlements are included in the sale and these are worth in the region of €5,000.

If a farm was short on its space for nature requirement in the CAP that is about to begin, this farm could fit the bill. Subdivided by mature hedgerows into almost 20 fields, some parts have a lot of woodland.

The 21 acres at Knocknagallagh, Bandon, is all in one block.

The farm could lend itself to a silage and heifer-rearing block for a dairy farm. Alternatively, it could be viewed as a potential forestry block. Although it is guided outside the usual price range for forestry land, there are a number of plantations nearby including on the bounds ditch. Though highly unlikely, given the push to increase forestry area and the funds being put in place to buy it, rule nothing out.

Knocknagallagh

Moving east, the Clonakilty-based auctioneer has a circa 21 acre holding in the Bandon area for sale. The non-residential farm at Knocknagallagh is laid out in one roadside block and divided into three fields of relatively similar size.

Described as excellent-quality land, this holding has both private water and electricity and is suitable for any type of agricultural enterprise.

Located in an area bustling with farming activity, it is about 5km south west of Bandon and a short distance from the R602 Bandon to Timoleague road. There are no entitlements included in the sale and auctioneer, Ernest Forde is guiding this land at €300,000 (€14,285/acre).