Table 62. Selected Principal Operator Characteristics by Race: 2012 and 2007 
[For meaning of abbreviations and symbols, see introductory text.] 
Characteristics 
All principal 
operators 
American Indian or 
Alaska Native 
Asian 
Black or 
African American 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
Operators number 
52,194 
56,014 
204 
341 
54 
53 
216 
247 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
44,785 
47,739 
166 
250 
34 
39 
168 
187 
Female 
7,409 
8,275 
38 
91 
20 
14 
48 
60 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
25,285 
24,795 
87 
148 
23 
21 
111 
107 
Other 
26,909 
31,219 
117 
193 
31 
32 
105 
140 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
43,740 
47,084 
168 
294 
39 
38 
173 
195 
Not on farm operated 
8,454 
8,930 
36 
47 
15 
15 
43 
52 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
21,550 
20,533 
69 
112 
11 
18 
90 
108 
Any 
30,644 
35,481 
135 
229 
43 
35 
126 
139 
1 to 49 days 
4,147 
6,085 
12 
42 
12 
11 
19 
23 
50 to 99 days 
2,069 
2,507 
16 
15 
11 
2 
13 
16 
100 to 199 days 
4,223 
4,476 
16 
32 
2 
6 
24 
19 
200 days or more 
20,205 
22,413 
91 
140 
18 
16 
70 
81 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
1,512 
1,691 
10 
11 
3 
2 
17 
14 
3 or 4 years 
2,350 
3,022 
15 
27 
2 
3 
18 
12 
5 to 9 years 
6,318 
8,258 
29 
72 
18 
12 
32 
49 
10 years or more 
42,014 
43,043 
150 
231 
31 
36 
149 
172 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
1,047 
(NA) 
3 
(NA) 
(NA) 
12 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
1,948 
(NA) 
8 
(NA) 
5 
(NA) 
17 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
5,456 
(NA) 
37 
(NA) 
17 
(NA) 
26 
(NA) 
1 0 years or more 
43,743 
(NA) 
156 
(NA) 
32 
(NA) 
161 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
244 
244 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
25 to 34 years 
2,736 
2,687 
3 
20 
6 
- 
6 
7 
35 to 44 years 
5,761 
7,334 
29 
58 
11 
4 
24 
11 
45 to 54 years 
12,259 
15,509 
73 
107 
5 
17 
38 
62 
55 to 64 years 
15,153 
15,019 
62 
99 
16 
15 
55 
70 
65 to 74 years 
10,490 
10,034 
24 
41 
13 
14 
59 
60 
75 years and over 
5,551 
5,187 
13 
16 
3 
3 
34 
37 
Average age 
57.6 
56.3 
55.6 
53.1 
54.8 
58.6 
60.9 
60.6 
Number of persons living in household 
142,363 
156,125 
565 
1,042 
166 
162 
565 
668 
Characteristics 
Native Hawaiian or 
Other Pacific Islander 
White 
More than one race reported 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
Operators number 
16 
20 
51,539 
55,017 
165 
336 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
14 
16 
44,273 
46,987 
130 
260 
Female 
2 
4 
7,266 
8,030 
35 
76 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
11 
12 
24,982 
24,348 
71 
159 
Other 
5 
8 
26,557 
30,669 
94 
177 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
12 
15 
43,208 
46,265 
140 
277 
Not on farm operated 
4 
5 
8,331 
8,752 
25 
59 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
11 
10 
21,303 
20,163 
66 
122 
Any 
5 
10 
30,236 
34,854 
99 
214 
1 to 49 days 
- 
4 
4,089 
5,971 
15 
34 
50 to 99 days 
- 
1 
2,023 
2,460 
6 
13 
100 to 199 days 
4 
1 
4,163 
4,388 
14 
30 
200 days or more 
1 
4 
19,961 
22,035 
64 
137 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
- 
1 
1,477 
1,648 
5 
15 
3 or 4 years 
4 
4 
2,302 
2,944 
9 
32 
5 to 9 years 
1 
2 
6,214 
8,069 
24 
54 
10 years or more 
11 
13 
41,546 
42,356 
127 
235 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
(NA) 
1,030 
(NA) 
2 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
4 
(NA) 
1,907 
(NA) 
7 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
1 
(NA) 
5,351 
(NA) 
24 
(NA) 
1 0 years or more 
11 
(NA) 
43,251 
(NA) 
132 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
- 
- 
244 
244 
- 
- 
25 to 34 years 
1 
1 
2,711 
2,620 
9 
39 
35 to 44 years 
4 
1 
5,675 
7,236 
18 
24 
45 to 54 years 
1 
3 
12,100 
15,223 
42 
97 
55 to 64 years 
5 
6 
14,963 
14,722 
52 
107 
65 to 74 years 
5 
6 
10,355 
9,868 
34 
45 
75 years and over 
" 
3 
5,491 
5,104 
10 
24 
Average age 
54.9 
61.7 
57.6 
56.3 
56.1 
54.6 
Number of persons living in household 
42 
53 
140,554 
153,286 
471 
914 
56 Michigan 
2012 Census of Agriculture - State Data 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
