Children of Dr. Henry Singleton, founder of Teledyne, run ranchland in New Mexico and California.

FORBES: REAL ESTATES

In the past two years, Cisco, Texas-based brothers Farris and Dan Wilks have been buying up almost 200, 000 acres in ranchland.

WSJ: From Oil, a Land Rush��WSJ Mansion

Growing soyabeans which are then exported to feed pigs in North America and Europe is by no means a sustainable activity, nor is increasing ranchland to grow more beef.

ECONOMIST: Letters

Tim Murphy, a broker at Hall and Hall whose firm has worked with the Wilks brothers, says they continue to look for more ranchland, not just for future land assets but for recreational purposes, too.

WSJ: From Oil, a Land Rush��WSJ Mansion

In the two years since, they have amassed a property portfolio spanning an estimated 177, 000 acres of ranchland in Montana and, thanks to additional purchases of the Evergreen Ranch and the Flying U Ranch, roughly 36, 000 acres in Idaho.

FORBES: Energy Boom Fueling Demand For Ranch Real Estate