Months of rain hold back spring launches

Months of sustained rainfall are casting a shadow over many aspects of agriculture, including the farmland market.

Spring is always a busy season for new launches and 2026 was set to be no exception, with agents preparing to market farms and bare land in early March, if not sooner.

But with little respite from persistent and heavy rain, fields are underwater, farming operations have been delayed, and vendors are reluctant to launch.

Read more: Persistent rain threatens crops

This is backed up by the amount of land advertised for sale so far this year in Farmers Weekly. Barely 2,500 acres have been marketed – a 58% drop on the same period in 2025.

Agents are unable to capture photographs of farms looking their best, says Patrick Ellicott, of South West specialist Stags.

“We have a number of commercial land holdings to bring to the market, but the record wet weather has caused delays to photography and, therefore, marketing.

“As a result, we expect to see an increase in supply of both land and farms to the market once the weather improves,” he adds more optimistically.

Shrinking sales window

At Sussex-based Batcheller Monkhouse, head of rural agency Edward Sargeant also has a number of new launches on hold.

“Normally, we would be preparing them for the market by the end of February, but with this run of horrendous weather, it’s now looking more like the end of March, which unfortunately shortens our selling window and adds pressure to the process.

“These properties show best when the ground is firm underfoot, and that’s proving hard to find anywhere at the moment.”

While the weather is largely blamed for restricting spring supply, agents suggest other factors are contributing.

Roger Parry, of Shrewsbury-based Roger Parry & Partners, says that despite the government backtracking on its initial changes to the inheritance tax (IHT) payable on agricultural properties, by increasing the individual tax threshold from £1m to £2.5m, the impact remains profound.

IHT and the new higher rate of capital gains tax (CGT) have encouraged farmers to consider long-term succession plans instead of selling.

“It appears to make more sense to contract or share farm in case a future generation wishes to farm,” says Roger.

“Although we have a small number of landowners and farmers thinking of selling, very few are committing to sell, but we do have a large farm in Carmarthenshire coming to the market in April and smaller areas of accommodation land.”

Roger predicts that landowners who cash in on the development potential of their land will be the principal farm buyers in 2026.

“Many farmers are also looking to diversify into leisure or direct retail to not be so reliant on volatile traditional farming,” he adds.

Market appraisals

Carter Jonas also reports a quiet start to 2026 for new launches, but the agency is conducting a “good number’’ of market appraisals for vendors considering selling.

Head of farm agency Andrew Chandler is unsurprised that some sellers are choosing to pause potential sales, given 18 months of “challenges and changes”.

“There is a lot to consider when selling a significant asset. Following the changes to government policy and environmental schemes announced in the past two months, there is even more to take into account.”

Despite this perfect storm of industry challenges and grim weather, some land has made it to the market over the past week.

Land at Clapton, Somerset © Stags

Stags is launching a 96-acre ring-fenced block of permanent pasture with some amenity woodland at Clapton on the lower Mendip Plateau, Somerset, at a guide price of £850,000.

The land, principally used for grazing but also suitable for mowing, is being sold as part of a family restructuring process.

The block is described as “well positioned with direct road access and good communication links to Crewkerne, Beaminster and the A358”, and the woodland adds sporting and amenity appeal.

Land at Tide Mill, East Sussex © Savills

Savills is launching bare land, too: 129 acres at Tide Mill and Bishopstone near Seaford, East Sussex.

The Grade 3 coastal pasture and arable land sits in the South Downs National Park and is for sale as a whole or in up to five lots, with a guide price of just over £1m.