Rental rates for potato growing land.

eatmyshorts

First time poster here, with no farming knowledge, so please be gentle!!

We have some land in North Antrim area (about 6 acres) that has always been used as grazing for horses. Since my father passed away last year, all the horses have gone.
A local farmer has approached my mother about renting the land for growing potatoes for a few seasons.
Being a complete novice, I've no idea what the going rate would be. I know it probably depends on location, soil quality, water etc, but could anyone give a few pointers in the right direction?

Thanks for any help.

Willfarman

Heard tell of 4 5 and even 6 hundred euro being paid but be warned Spud men find it hard to get land for good reason. They make **** of the soil structure with modern methods.

larrymiller

What ever price you get just be carefull, had witnessed first hand hassle with spud men. And before someone jumps at me I'm not saying they all are.
Op do you know that spuds can only be sowed there one year and then four years off (I think that's it anyway) so you need to know what he has planned for the following years! Just a bit of a heads up since you've no exoeriance

Carey7

I'm from your area. Rented 'Spud Ground' few years ago 6-7 acres got £250-300. My advice is money up front!!!!! Always and no exceptions. Some great potato growers in antrim

AntrimGlens

Land at McNaghtens Estate Bushmills would go for up to £500 an acre but it's serious spud ground. As Carey says money up front no ifs buts or see you laters.

Carey7

Mc Naughten's is "Rolls Royce" land not comparable with other local prices - always mad money. I only used it to if set the price of reseeding land only year. Father said it would help 'clean' the ground. In my opinion it improvised the land but had £2000 towards cost of setting it right again!

jaymla627

150 acres set to a well know potato grower bedside us, at the mineute it resembles something like a war zone...theirs pools of water lying everywhere due to compaction, and the two to three foot ruts all over it from the harvestor, theirs also 25 acres that was left unplanted but was ploughed and tilled that now has the finest crop of weeds I have ever seen, I wouldn't let a spud man into ground here if he was offering 1,000 a acre especially seen as this family are raved about in the national press, if their the good operators hate to see the bad

micraX

jaymla627 wrote: »

150 acres set to a well know potato grower bedside us, at the mineute it resembles something like a war zone...theirs pools of water lying everywhere due to compaction, and the two to three foot ruts all over it from the harvestor, theirs also 25 acres that was left unplanted but was ploughed and tilled that now has the finest crop of weeds I have ever seen, I wouldn't let a spud man into ground here if he was offering 1,000 a acre especially seen as this family are raved about in the national press, if their the good operators hate to see the bad

Potatoes are harmless to the ground compared to other root vegetables like turnips or parsnips, local lad has a jd7810 duels all round just to bring one box of parsnips to the gate at a time.
But they have to be grown somewhere. And I'm sure there is a valid reason why the 25 acres was left, I'd say it got to wet and/or late to plant them. As the say don't go into ground late that you can't come out of late.

jaymla627

micraX wrote: »

Potatoes are harmless to the ground compared to other root vegetables like turnips or parsnips, local lad has a jd7810 duels all round just to bring one box of parsnips to the gate at a time.
But they have to be grown somewhere. And I'm sure there is a valid reason why the 25 acres was left, I'd say it got to wet and/or late to plant them. As the say don't go into ground late that you can't come out of late.

What was the valid reason for letting it get destroyed with weeds, their was a crop of redshank growing on it that was 4-5 feet high, never mind the cross-compliance rules they have broken it was bad form on their part....wouldn't mind but this ground is opposite a very busy main road and visible to all passing traffic would you be queuing up to let these lads ground

micraX

jaymla627 wrote: »

What was the valid reason for letting it get destroyed with weeds, their was a crop of redshank growing on it that was 4-5 feet high, never mind the cross-compliance rules they have broken it was bad form on their part....wouldn't mind but this ground is opposite a very busy main road and visible to all passing traffic would you be queuing up to let these lads ground

As I said it could of gotten wet. Sure what harm, they can burn them off and till it this year. Do you say anything to the growers in question?
I dunno if that last bit is a question but to answer it anyway, yes and no. If I had ground I wouldn't rent it out, but if approached I would swap ground with a grower if needed

eatmyshorts

Thanks for all the info. Will have to have a think about it.

Thanks!