[engineer_22]

>The bucolic picture of farms as family homes combined with a flock of peaceful sheep, a family dog, and some silly chickens and a hard working sole proprietor is really hobby farming and a primarily aesthetic thing at this point.

I think the truth of your statement depends on local environment. In the area I grew up there are still small families running dairy operations. They have admitted it's getting harder to keep the farm competitive.

I agree farming has consolidated considerably since the mid 20th century. It's consolidation by design - the federal gov't has pursued policies to encourage consolidation. From a cost efficiency standpoint, it makes a lot of sense, but it has cost a lot of people their livelihoods.

The joke is, to make a million dollars in farming, start with two million.