Figures Reveal Rise in Agricultural Rent Prices

Recent figures from Scotland’s Chief Statistician have revealed a 13% rise in the average cost of renting agricultural land from 2012 to 2013.

The latest figures on Tenanted Agricultural Land in Scotland show that average rent for land was £38 per hectare in 2013, compared to £33 per hectare the previous year.

Average rent for poorer-quality Less Favoured Area (LFA) land showed the highest increase, up 24% from £20 to £24 per hectare. The average rent of other land rose by 3%, from £126 to £130 per hectare over the same period.

Rents were highest in Fife and the Lothians, and lowest in Shetland and Eileanan an Iar.

The report also contains new figures on seasonal lets. These show that the decline in longer-term rented land – which has fallen from 1.61 million hectares in 2005 to 1.37 million hectares in 2013 – has been offset by an equivalent increase in seasonal lets, meaning the total amount of rented agricultural land has remained constant since 2005 at around 2.17 million hectares.

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