The demand for English farmland has sent the cost per acre soaring to record highs in 2013, a trend predicted to continue this year.
Prices jumped by 11% last year along, by 210% over the last ten years and a remarkable 11.500% from 60 years ago when land cost £52 an acre.
The average cost today is £6,882 per acre.
Farm land is now close to outperforming gold which, although suffering a severe decline last year of 28%, it has nevertheless increased by 212% over the last decade.
Growth of nearly 6% this year is predicted by Knight Frank Farmland Index.
As private investors show increasing interest in buying farmland, the supply has remained limited. Only 150,000 acres were advertised on the open market last year, compared to 300,000 acres in 2000.
Some tracts have been selling for more, up to £10,000 in some areas. Most desirable are large blocks of arable land. Farmers, adjoining landowners and institutional investors have all expressed a willingness to buy when land goes up for sale.
