Our views: W.Va. will miss the farm factor; The state's hard-working farmers have had an effect on its character

NATIONALLY, farmers are an average of 55 years old. WestVirginia's farming community is even older - an average of 56.3years.

As of the 2002 agriculture census, West Virginia had about 20,812farmers - 700 fewer than it had in 1997. Most of them run smalloperations ranging in size from 50 to 179 acres.

But as the longtime operators of these tracts gradually move awayfrom production, much of their land is falling fallow for lack ofyounger family members who want to take over.

And as Jamie Kinsey, secretary-treasurer of the West Virginia FarmBureau, explained to the Daily Mail's Kris Wise, those who do want tofarm but do not inherit land face high capital costs to …