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 
107,284 
75,087 
27,198 
4,999 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
83,019 
68,196 
1 1 ,459 
3,364 
Spouse of principal operator 
1,728 
(X) 
1,666 
62 
Female 
24,265 
6,891 
15,739 
1,635 
Spouse of principal operator 
14,487 
(X) 
13,996 
491 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
51,272 
37,835 
1 1 ,058 
2,379 
Other 
56,012 
37,252 
16,140 
2,620 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
72,350 
52,037 
18,160 
2,153 
Not on farm operated 
34,934 
23,050 
9,038 
2,846 
Days worked off farm: 
None 
44,036 
31,838 
10,259 
1,939 
Any 
63,248 
43,249 
16,939 
3,060 
1 to 49 days 
10,162 
7,028 
2,626 
508 
50 to 99 days 
4,543 
3,029 
1,268 
246 
1 00 to 1 99 days 
8,301 
5,510 
2,410 
381 
200 days or more 
40,242 
27,682 
10,635 
1,925 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
3,901 
2,135 
1,298 
468 
3 or 4 years 
5,446 
3,191 
1,744 
511 
5 to 9 years 
13,693 
8,270 
4,403 
1,020 
1 0 years or more 
84,244 
61,491 
19,753 
3,000 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
2,991 
1,539 
1,043 
409 
3 or 4 years 
4,608 
2,697 
1,489 
422 
5 to 9 years 
12,059 
7,206 
3,914 
939 
1 0 years or more 
87,626 
63,645 
20,752 
3,229 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
1,449 
515 
473 
461 
25 to 34 years 
7,802 
4,552 
2,395 
855 
35 to 44 years 
12,261 
7,677 
3,840 
744 
45 to 54 years 
24,933 
16,888 
7,033 
1,012 
55 to 64 years 
30,260 
21,753 
7,466 
1,041 
65 to 74 years 
19,704 
14,732 
4,391 
581 
75 years and over 
10,875 
8,970 
1,600 
305 
Average age 
56.3 
57.8 
53.6 
48.1 
Number of persons living in household 
232,050 
190,989 
31,509 
9,552 
' Data were collected for a maximum of three operators per farm. 
42 Illinois 
2012 Census of Agriculture - State Data 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
