J. G. Boswell Co. will sharply cut its work force.

Predicting a depressed farm economy for several more years, Boswell, one of the nation’s largest farm operators, said it will offer millions of dollars in incentives to get most of its California work force to quit. Officials of the firm are distributing letters with the early retirement and severance offers to 600 of the firm’s 900 employees in the state. The letters stressed that it was a one-time offer that will be withdrawn Dec. 31.