During the past 12 months values have increased on average by 17% and over the past 10 years by 208%, the data also shows.
This compares with 244% for gold, 135% for prime residential property in central London, 52% for the FTSE 100, and just 23% for average UK house prices
The report points out that availability remains limited. So far around 16% fewer acres have been advertised publicly for sale this year, according to the Farmers Weekly Land Tracker Index. Even taking into account the off market 17,800 acre sale of the Co-op portfolio, supply is historically subdued.
At the same time demand continues to be buoyant, particularly from investors. The firm has received a number of enquires over the past few weeks from funds and the representatives of wealthy individuals analysing the market with a view to making an investment in farmland.
‘Potentially there could be more pension funds and institutional buyers in the market. There are some good deals happening off market,’ said Tom Raynham, head of Knight Frank’s Agricultural Investment team.
Investors are becoming more savvy and better advised. ‘Their knowledge of farming systems is growing. They are looking for opportunities where they can increase agricultural productivity and returns, rather than just purchasing land let under long-term agricultural tenancies, which has been the traditional investment target,’ explained Raynham.
James Prewett, head of Regional Farms at Knight Frank, said that farmers are also becoming more active. ‘They took a bit of a pause for breath at the beginning of the year when values rose quite sharply, but now the market seems to have settled into a rhythm and their confidence has returned,’ he pointed out.
‘Farmers are definitely in the mix at over £9,000 an acre for 483 acres of arable land at Banbury, Oxfordshire, that I am selling,’ he said, but added that there are still massive variations around the country.
‘I think values have plateaued in some areas, while there is room for more growth in others.” Overall, the Knight Frank Farmland Index predicts further rises of around 6% over the next 12 months,’ added Prewett.
