Well out here in fly over land, the biggest transformation was Roundup and GMO's.
We had lots of chemicals to control weeds, but Roundup and GMO changed everything. Our largest farms were 1000 acres before and after Roundup 3000 to 4000 acres. That means 2/3 to 3/4 of the farmers disappeared. Gone to the city. Many little towns just disappeared and small towns got smaller. When I go home now it is a sad time for me, to witness the shrinking rural population. Rural people are more conservative in general.
Now seems people are waking up to the dangers of Roundup. It would be troubled times down of the farm if they had to shrink in size and diversify more.