Not necessarily fleeing, but farming efficiencies, economics, land consolidation & falling birth rates are contributing factors.
When I am back home (Boyd County & Gregory County, SD), it is not too hard too hard to pick out the remnants of old homesteads on every quarter or half section. My great grandfather had a large farm (3 Quarters) a century ago. Even my Dad experienced ‘small, community’ farming as a teenager in the’50s on threshing crew. Now, my cousins are operating farms that are several thousand acres.