[graham-j]

Hi,what is a fair price to pay rental for a couple of fields for grazing sheep.One is 2 acres the other is 1.5 acres.

Thanks Graham.

[Hellybee]

We renting next door from our farm, it's approx 12 acres and we got it for £300 a year.  But we also got to try n put an old shed back together in that deal too...swings n roundabouts  eh x

[Sbom]

We try and barter a little with our rentals, just had hay off about three/four acres and paid in fresh pork and lamb. Or we have paid half in cash half in meat before.

[Porterlauren]

12 acres for £300 for a year, that's good.

Around here, its around £75 an acre minimum.

[Me]

£100 an acre norm here

[GeorgieB82]

£75 pa here

[verdifish]

We pay £200 Per acre for 6 acres next to the house, around here thats an enormous amount ,standard for grazing with good fencing and water is about £90 per acre per year.ours has less than great fencing and no water .The owner of the land originally told us £100 per acre but then said as she had spent more on the grass seed than she thought she would have to she upped it to what we are paying now .Is there anything we can do ?  Not really  . Does it make my blood boil ? OH YES.. Moral of this story is land for rent is worth what YOU are prepared to pay ,there are no hard and fast prices .there may be standard for the area but if you want / need it you'll pay well over the odds for it.

[Porterlauren]

The problem with paying over the odds for land because you really want it, is that it fixes the price at that level, it very rarely will go down. So effectively it can push up the prices in the surrounding area. It happens a lot here with horsey folk, willing to pay silly money, that you just can't pay for sheep.

[verdifish]

Whilst i fully understand the theory of prices being bumped what should we do

[GeorgieB82]

Whilst i fully understand the theory of prices being bumped what should we do

I would call their bluff and say you've got options elsewhere for cheaper.

[Hellybee]

Portalauren, you haven't seen the state of the shed haha x

[Porterlauren]

Fairplay! I've had some cheap land in exchange for fencing. There is usually a way around it!

[midtown]

At the end of the day, rental grazing is only worth what someone is willing to pay!
You also must look at the economics. If I've got a paddock available for rent on a short term grazing agreement, the chances are I'll not achieve the same income by having x number of sheep per acre as I would if renting to a horse owner.

On the other hand, sheep are less likely to damage the land therefore at the end of the rental period there is less likelihood of expensive maintenance being necessary. Fencing generally needs to be more escape proof for sheep, and while the agreement can contain clauses regarding maintenance and repair, there needs to be reasonable fencing in place to start with.

To benefit the land generally, we'll also cross-graze alternating with sheep, horses, and cattle, all on short term grazing agreements, followed by a rest period.
Prices will vary accordingly, but I guarantee there will be more people seeking rentals than there are rentals available!.

[Hellybee]

Fencing? What's that ol, well there is a perimeter fence, but all the interior ones have been eaten by the sea air lol x

[graham-j]

Hi, thanks for all the replys.I will offer £70 per acre and see where it takes me.

Thanks Graham.