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From Wikipedia: A family farm is a farm owned and operated by a family,[1] and often passed down from generation to generation. It is the basic unit of the mostly agricultural economy of much of human history and continues to be so in developing nations. Alternatives to family farms include those run by agribusiness, colloquially known as factory farms, or by collective farming. ~~~ As defined by ... More

From Wikipedia: A family farm is a farm owned and operated by a family,[1] and often passed down from generation to generation. It is the basic unit of the mostly agricultural economy of much of human history and continues to be so in developing nations. Alternatives to family farms include those run by agribusiness, colloquially known as factory farms, or by collective farming. ~~~ As defined by USDA regulations to farm loan programs (e.g. those administered by the Farm Service Agency), a family farm is a farm that 1.produces agricultural commodities for sale in such quantities so as to be recognized in the community as a farm and not a rural residence; 2.produces enough income (including off-farm employment) to pay family and farm operating expenses, pay debts, and maintain the property; 3.is managed by the operator; 4.has a substantial amount of labor provided by the operator and the operator's family; and 5.may use seasonal labor during peak periods and a reasonable amount of full-time hired labor. (For exact language, see 7 U.S.C. 1941.4,1943.4). ~~~ It is arguable whether any sort of "idyllic" life existed for most of the millions of family farms that have disappeared in recent decades. At the beginning of 20th century, an average farm in North America produced much less food per acre than it does nowadays. A likely conclusion is that for a time in the middle decades of the last century, a large number of farms achieved a temporarily comfortable position by capitalizing on rapidly emerging new technologies, markets, and growth-oriented philosophies. As growth and "production efficiency" kept increasing, this position began to reverse noticeably, at least by the 1970s. The number of farms, and of farm families living on the land, has dropped every decade in the United States since 1920. In part this was a function of economies of scale and competitive pressures.

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