Table 55. Selected Operator Characteristics for Principal, Second, and Third Operator: 2012 
[For meaning of abbreviations and symbols, see introductory text.] 
Characteristics 
All operators ^ 
Principal operator 
Second operator 
Third operator 
Operators number 
3,789 
2,451 
1,105 
233 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
2,582 
2,006 
438 
138 
Spouse of principal operator 
131 
(X) 
128 
3 
Female 
1,207 
445 
667 
95 
Spouse of principal operator 
605 
(X) 
575 
30 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
2,243 
1,565 
530 
148 
Other 
1,546 
886 
575 
85 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
2,992 
1,954 
894 
144 
Not on farm operated 
797 
497 
211 
89 
Days worked off farm: 
None 
2,002 
1,366 
504 
132 
Any 
1,787 
1,085 
601 
101 
1 to 49 days 
248 
143 
86 
19 
50 to 99 days 
103 
50 
33 
20 
1 00 to 1 99 days 
230 
136 
77 
17 
200 days or more 
1,206 
756 
405 
45 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
112 
54 
36 
22 
3 or 4 years 
203 
88 
92 
23 
5 to 9 years 
508 
302 
156 
50 
1 0 years or more 
2,966 
2,007 
821 
138 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
83 
37 
27 
19 
3 or 4 years 
154 
66 
67 
21 
5 to 9 years 
453 
247 
155 
51 
1 0 years or more 
3,099 
2,101 
856 
142 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
56 
5 
17 
34 
25 to 34 years 
242 
105 
76 
61 
35 to 44 years 
438 
233 
169 
36 
45 to 54 years 
872 
575 
261 
36 
55 to 64 years 
1,060 
713 
318 
29 
65 to 74 years 
806 
595 
192 
19 
75 years and over 
315 
225 
72 
18 
Average age 
56.3 
58.4 
54.3 
42.8 
Number of persons living in household 
7,843 
6,458 
1,041 
344 
^ Data were collected for a maximum of three operators per farm. 
2012 Census of Agriculture - State Data 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
Delaware 39 
