For most of this century the farm share of the consumer and export dollar has trended steadily downward. Not coincidentally, the number of farms has trended down at a mirroring pace. If the current farm share trend line is extended for another 20-21 years the farm share of the consumer dollar would be predicted to reach 0. If we leave current policies and trends in place for another generation, there will be virtually nothing left of family farming and ranching. It need not be this way.
Trend lines are economic constructs, predictions of the future.
Observing a bus hurtling toward a cliff, it is easy enough to predict the eventual outcome. However, predictions of a catastrophic ending assume that no action will be taken to change direction. Agricultural concentration and the decline of owner-operated farms and ranches are not the inevitable result of inexorable forces of nature. Nor is family farm and ranch decline driven by efficiency gains associated with large scale agriculture. Levels well below the size of today's most rapidly growing operations.