> The shift over years has been that the second strategy produces more crops with lower expenses than the first, and is taking over to the extent it is almost impossible to run a small farm without going bankrupt.

There is value in small-scale farming. If there is one thing urban hipsters love to pay for, it's artisanal, high quality organic food. There are farms where you can see pictures and datasheets of all the animals living there and you can pre-order certain cuts of the specific animal once it is slaughtered and processed.