I can’t speak to papaya but I can speak to corn and soybeans. 1st USDA data isn’t truly representative because their definition of a “farm” is any agricultural entity that generates $1000. That could be selling garden surplus or my kids 4H project. It’s a ridiculously low bar to represent “farms” in this manner.

From our POV, we have 18 years of side by side GMO, nonGMO production and include 7 years of certified organic simultaneously. Our GM crops have required fewer inputs, fewer tractor passes, which means less man hours and less fossil fuel to do those jobs. At the same time they have out yielded our nonGM crops and hands down beat our organic yields often by double. We decertified our organic acres 4 years ago for several reasons but yield was a factor as was sediment loss from tillage as the only feasible way to control weeds in the organic farming system.

When you combine fewer inputs, fewer man hours, better yield, you end up with a more profitable acre compared to other varieties of the same crop. We grow both because we 1) have markets for both and 2) believe in risk management through diversification.

I crunch the numbers every year and posted them here: http://thefoodiefarmer.blogspot.com/2016/08/gmo-vs-nongmo-2015-cost-of-production.html?m=1

For us it’s an ongoing evaluation year to year what we choose to grow based on the previous years data and historical perspective and ultimately market demand for either/or. Right now we have highest demand for the GMO crop high oleic acid soybeans and have to protect it from our nonGMO soybeans so that when we deliver it to the grain elevator, it has the highest percent of oleic oil which pays a per bushel premium.

Off farm income is nothing more than a 2 income family. Someone inevitably works off the farm in order to get benefits, retirement, and especially Healthcare. Because we reinvested any income we generate into updating equipment, paying land rent, buying inputs for the next year. We pay ourselves last and least because in order to sustain the family farm, those things take priority.