In response to ever lower prices, farm families have diversified into off-farm occupations. Today more than half of farm family income is sourced off-farm. The small return that is still available to farm families from the marketplace is matched by governments with a small top-up through various subsidies. But the big change stems from the action initiated by farm families, not by government. Rising off-farm earnings keep farm families going. That subsidy to our food production system is far far greater than government stabilization and insurance payments. 

Farming in Canada is reinventing itself. Low prices generate tremendous concern about the imminent disappearance of the family farm. Indeed, for decades farm numbers have been in freefall. Ultimately, the bottom is in sight — not because of government assistance, but as a result of choices made by farm families themselves.