Cost of rent per acre

[Abbyw]

Hi
I am looking to rent land for cattle and sheep and have very little clue about how much I should be paying per acre per year. I’ve been told I’m paying a lot at the moment and heard very contradicting things!
I am based in Gloucestershire/ Wiltshire so was wondering if anyone could give me a ball park figure on prices as I’m looking to move
Thankyou!

 

[vantage]

Anything from a negative rental figure to several hundred pounds, area , land quality, demand dependent.

 

[Abbyw]

I have zero clue for a ball park though. Average grazing with water. Ideally fenced but I’m happy to fence though. I’m looking for 10 acres+

 

[Highland Mule]

I'd say if you're paying less than £3k/year for an exclusive long term tenancy of a 10 acre field with water and fencing then you're doing okay, under £2k and you should be happy. Depends on so many factors including bps (who claims) etc.

What are you paying at the moment and for what?

 

[Abbyw]

I’m currently renting a 5 acre field with very poor grazing (mostly moss rather than grass) with water and fencing. There was no fencing or trough when I moved here, I put the fencing up myself and fitted the trough myself. I currently am paying £1100 per year. No bps on my behalf. They do all of that.

 

[Highland Mule]

I’m currently renting a 5 acre field with very poor grazing (mostly moss rather than grass) with water and fencing. There was no fencing or trough when I moved here, I put the fencing up myself and fitted the trough myself. I currently am paying £1100 per year. No bps on my behalf. They do all of that.

Doesn't seem out of the way for horse/ amenity use, but I wouldn't pay that for it for sheep or cattle myself.

How many sheep or cattle are you running on it?
Do you apply any fertiliser to the land?
What's the terms of your tenancy?
Are you allowed to cutlivate/ improve the productivity through over-seeding?

 

[Abbyw]

I have 5 cows on that and it’s far too tight hence the need to move.
no fertiliser. The tenancy is a rolling monthly bit I have been here 4 years. I have tried to plant more seed but due to lack of dark machinery this is very limited

 

[teslacoils]

Location? £200/AC and you can have 100ac of excellent grass on my farm.

 

[Highland Mule]

I have 5 cows on that and it’s far too tight hence the need to move.
no fertiliser. The tenancy is a rolling monthly bit I have been here 4 years. I have tried to plant more seed but due to lack of dark machinery this is very limited

Yeah, that sounds like you're being generous at that.

 

[Werzle]

Hi
I am looking to rent land for cattle and sheep and have very little clue about how much I should be paying per acre per year. I’ve been told I’m paying a lot at the moment and heard very contradicting things!
I am based in Gloucestershire/ Wiltshire so was wondering if anyone could give me a ball park figure on prices as I’m looking to move
Thankyou!

Usually you wouldnt pay anymore than £100/acre renting from april 1st until oct 31st for grazing ground. It would be fenced and watered for that, but alot of the time the price reflects how bad the field is wanted . Owner wants as much as possible and the grazier wants it as cheap as possible. I have never paid more than £80/acre

 

[Abbyw]

Location? £200/AC and you can have 100ac of excellent grass on my farm.

I’m based north Wiltshire/south Gloucestershire
If you’re anywhere near there?

 

[czechmate]

Usually you wouldnt pay anymore than £100/acre renting from april 1st until oct 31st for grazing ground. It would be fenced and watered for that, but alot of the time the price reflects how bad the field is wanted . Owner wants as much as possible and the grazier wants it as cheap as possible. I have never paid more than £80/acre

It’s quite staggering really. My ex FIL used to manage a farm, then as he got towards retirement they grassed it down and had a sale each spring for grazing as you say. This was in 1985 and it all made £90/acre then.

 

[teslacoils]

I’m based north Wiltshire/south Gloucestershire
If you’re anywhere near there?

Sorry, up in Lincolnshire. But you could probably rent a nice little cottage nearby too. Might even throw in a shed at cost.

 

[bluebell]

how do people make it pay by renting agricultral land at those figures for either growing agricultural crops or keeping farm animals? at least if your paying off a morgage you will own something that will go up? abit like people who spend there life in a council house when they could have bought it years ago with a large discount, no point in paying landlords long term or for ever unless you have a chance at buying, thats my point anyway?

 

[willie waver]

I’m currently renting a 5 acre field with very poor grazing (mostly moss rather than grass) with water and fencing. There was no fencing or trough when I moved here, I put the fencing up myself and fitted the trough myself. I currently am paying £1100 per year. No bps on my behalf. They do all of that.

i'm paying £20 an acre for some crappy ground on a six month seasonal let. i'd say you're being shafted big time

 

[Werzle]

how do people make it pay by renting agricultral land at those figures for either growing agricultural crops or keeping farm animals? at least if your paying off a morgage you will own something that will go up? abit like people who spend there life in a council house when they could have bought it years ago with a large discount, no point in paying landlords long term or for ever unless you have a chance at buying, thats my point anyway?

Might just be a year when you need some extra land , the rented land doesnt pay in its self but the farm as a whole does. If the OP was asking for business advice with the stock and quoted rent we would be advising to sell the stock and give the land up

 

[Jackall]

What we ddon’t know is this is a hobby. I would say in his area horse people are paying over a £1000 a year for a stable and a patch of knackered grazing.

 

[Sprig]

I pay £40/acre/year on two separately owned but adjoining paddocks, one 2acre, one 3.5 acres. Well fenced but no water so we trailer that in. I have use of another 3.5 acres (fenced and water) for free intermittently to keep the grass down. In fact the owners of that field check my sheep while they are there, I don't need to do anything apart from drop them off and pick them up. All paddocks are within half a mile of each other. In Wilts. It is about building relationships with people I find. There are plenty of small plots around that the owners don't really have a use for and it can be mutually beneficial to have stock on it.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I’m currently renting a 5 acre field with very poor grazing (mostly moss rather than grass) with water and fencing. There was no fencing or trough when I moved here, I put the fencing up myself and fitted the trough myself. I currently am paying £1100 per year. No bps on my behalf. They do all of that.

Good grazing here, £100 ,to £150 very good grazing I should say . Thats 6 month get another £20 or so for the winter

 

[kiwi pom]

how do people make it pay by renting agricultral land at those figures for either growing agricultural crops or keeping farm animals? at least if your paying off a morgage you will own something that will go up? abit like people who spend there life in a council house when they could have bought it years ago with a large discount, no point in paying landlords long term or for ever unless you have a chance at buying, thats my point anyway?

The people that rent or contract farm large acreages know their numbers and know what they can pay in order to make a profit, they don't need to own the land to make money.
The smaller ones renting 5 acres here and ten acres there, basically have a hobby that just needs to break even or make a few quid. The weekly wage comes from somewhere else.
The hobby might be there to help them pay less tax.