Simon Shao, the executive hiread by Zhang Renwu to oversee the recently purchased ranch, poses for a photo on a visit during the alfalfa harvest.

"The last three years have seen explosive growth in alfalfa hay going to China," McCullock said. "It is doubtful that the Chinese will continue to buy at such a high growth rate long-term. However, it remains difficult to predict the domestic forage-supply situation in China or when exports will slow down."

Zhang, who had just returned to Beijing after visiting Utah, said he aims to obtain 40,000 to 50,000 tons of alfalfa this year, partly through crop purchases from nearby farms. That, he predicted, could translate into "more than $1 million" in income.

Escalante's location in a basin between mountain ranges makes it ideal as a grazing spot for several species of wild game. In late summer and early fall, deer and elk migrate to the ranch seeking abundant food and space. That's when the hunting season starts, said Zhang, who plans to develop a hunting business when the alfalfa harvest ends this fall.

"The lodge on the ranch is well-equipped and can accommodate about a dozen people at a time," he said.

Meanwhile, his hunt for additional farmland will continue. "I am looking at more farms now, in Utah and other states and am considering buying more."

Contact the writer at yuweizhang@chinadailyusa.com