Well I doubt that Government regulation is what brought about the decline of the family farm.
I grew up on a little farm, 3 milk cows, couple of horses, various critters. Grampa would sell the milk in town, transporting it with his V8 stick shift (with over drive) Studebaker (loved that car). We grew hay for the animals, no bales though, just pitchfork it onto the trailor and into the loft of the barn. Most of our equipement was literally horse drawn converted to be pulled by a tractor. Plenty fruit trees, lot's of canning to prepare for the winter, big garden, life was hard, frankly...
Government didn't run Grampa out of business, he just got old and nobody else wanted to do it. There was good work in town to be had, more money, less work, it's the American way!
No doubt the same happened to thousands of folks who used to make a good bit of their liveyhood from the "farm".
I worked for an international corporation for most of my career. An ever changing environment, keep up with the new technology or perish. It was a constant battle to stay ahead, get ahead. My favorite book from those times?
"Who Moved my Cheese". Talks about the need to constantly reinvent yourself in your work, your life. I would bet a good number of folks here have read it?
But I know a couple of people who can't read, at all. There on Government assistance of various kinds, not a lot you can do to help them...