This year has been a bumper one for big farm sales as some of the country’s top landowners, including Rich Listers such as Gina Rinehart, Andrew Forrest and Sir Michael Hintze, bought and sold amid the best agricultural conditions seen in decades.

Forecasts that gross agricultural production would hit a record $78 billion this financial year – as the price of beef, wheat and other soft commodities soared – helped fund managers raise fresh cash for acquisitions.