Why? 

Maybe one answer to the financial problems is to use the suitable acres to setup a rotational grazing system for beef cows. Transition from sprayed, purchased input-dependent corn/beans to cow/calf. The USA is at its smallest beef cowherd in many years. That's where the need is.

Think outside the corn/bean/govt subsidies box. On paid-for land like in the article there are tremendous opportunities. 

I'm older than the farmer in this article, as are some others on the stock talk board. It's possible to set up a grazing cattle operation which does not require a lot of hard physical work.

Sell off 40 acres or so to finance the transition, pay for fences, water and some good cattle to start with.

I'm tired of the "woe is me" attitude just because young people don't want to do it the same way as Grandpa. Probably because they see grandpa struggling and living on govt subsidies to pay chemical, fertilizer and equipment  companies. Where's the fun there?  Personally I find there can be enjoyment (and profits) in a grazing beef operation where you don't need to operate under the stress of land payments. Forget about the sinister term "opportunity cost".

The USA doesn't need more corn and beans. It does need more beef and different thinking.

In the article, the main problem then becomes the financial setup with the 5 heirs not getting their annual check during the transition period. Sounds like maybe they'd be open to adjusting to keep the farm together and maybe the son who said he's more interested in animals than stepping on the corn/bean treadmill, would be interested in leaving his pharma job and coming back. 

There's no mention of cousins having an interest in the operation but I bet there are some nieces or nephews out of the 5 families who might be interested in learning the beef ropes and bringing some new thinking in.

Enough of the "woe is me" stuff about a family with 1000 paid for acres of Illinois land. If what you're doing isn't working, do something different.