"UK Farmland prices surged at the fastest pace in the RICS Rural market survey’s history during the second half of 2007. The farmland market jumped forward, with prices rising by 27.9 percent (the fastest pace in the survey’s history) compared to 22.6 percent in the first half of 2007. Sharp increases in commodity prices have encouraged farmers to expand production and enter the market as purchasers, with demand far outstripping supply. ;

BBC

"Irish farmers have been key to driving up land prices in the UK in the second quarter of the year, according to estate agents Knight Frank. Their quarterly survey shows 14pc of buyers of UK farms came from abroad, with 5pc of those coming from Ireland and 14pc from Scandinavia. Farmland prices have jumped by 10pc in the second quarter, building on the 12pc increase already seen during the first three months of 2008. This brings total growth in land price to 38pc over the past 12 months, according to the auctioneering group. Andrew Shirley, head of rural land research, said: "The Danes and Irish have been active in the farmland market because UK land is much cheaper than their own. There are even fewer opportunities to purchase large blocks of land for them at home. e"

Independent