Ken Root's article, "The last generation," (July 18) is more accurate than you know. I farm 1,800 acres of Wheat and have about 700 of grass. My boy is 28 and works for a oil company and has no desire to farm at all. Around Custer City, Okla., there are about 15 of us in the 55 to 65 year age group with no one to take over the farming.

Another problem we are starting to encounter, is a lot of outside money coming in from hunters, California, oil money, and others. They are willing to buy the land no matter what the cost is. This eliminates about all the farmers. I think it is coming to the point where you have to farm a lot of acres or have a job in town and farm a little on the side. With high fuel prices and low Wheat prices, something has to give someday. Farming used to be a way of life, now it's a business of survival.

--Paul Christensen, Custer City, Okla.

Ken Root was absolutely correct in saying that to give young farmers a chance to farm we must no longer support us old geezers or the very extensive operator or even the more moderate operator. But it will never happen--the yelping would be unbearable. By not contacting a large operator and instead offering a parcel of land to a young beginner in this vicinity is insulted as I hear the story.

I am 81 years of age. Of my five children only one farms and he is also employed by the Department of Human Services, State of Iowa.

The farm has been in our family's possession since about 1888 or 1889.

--Henry Veldhuizen, Sully, Ia.

Date: 7/20/05