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 
75,087 
76,860 
102 
168 
94 
90 
110 
98 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
68,196 
69,196 
95 
144 
68 
82 
87 
79 
Female 
6,891 
7,664 
7 
24 
26 
8 
23 
19 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
37,835 
37,223 
44 
86 
30 
39 
43 
38 
Other 
37,252 
39,637 
58 
82 
64 
51 
67 
60 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
52,037 
54,591 
83 
123 
55 
55 
76 
55 
Not on farm operated 
23,050 
22,269 
19 
45 
39 
35 
34 
43 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
31,838 
28,398 
33 
56 
13 
29 
47 
36 
Any 
43,249 
48,462 
69 
112 
81 
61 
63 
62 
1 to 49 days 
7,028 
9,344 
13 
22 
3 
18 
5 
11 
50 to 99 days 
3,029 
3,671 
7 
12 
3 
2 
6 
2 
1 00 to 1 99 days 
5,510 
5,934 
5 
23 
15 
11 
6 
11 
200 days or more 
27,682 
29,513 
44 
55 
60 
30 
46 
38 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
2,135 
2,304 
- 
1 
4 
2 
5 
5 
3 or 4 years 
3,191 
3,828 
7 
11 
7 
7 
11 
3 
5 to 9 years 
8,270 
10,326 
27 
28 
8 
21 
21 
23 
1 0 years or more 
61,491 
60,402 
68 
128 
75 
60 
73 
67 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
1,539 
(NA) 
(NA) 
4 
(NA) 
5 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
2,697 
(NA) 
4 
(NA) 
7 
(NA) 
11 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
7,206 
(NA) 
27 
(NA) 
8 
(NA) 
19 
(NA) 
1 0 years or more 
63,645 
(NA) 
71 
(NA) 
75 
(NA) 
75 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
515 
594 
- 
- 
2 
- 
- 
- 
25 to 34 years 
4,552 
4,102 
4 
- 
- 
2 
3 
7 
35 to 44 years 
7,677 
9,657 
10 
25 
6 
12 
4 
6 
45 to 54 years 
16,888 
20,938 
25 
49 
20 
28 
30 
30 
55 to 64 years 
21,753 
20,332 
40 
50 
40 
26 
24 
26 
65 to 74 years 
14,732 
13,520 
17 
23 
23 
20 
29 
16 
75 years and over 
8,970 
7,717 
6 
21 
3 
2 
20 
13 
Average age 
57.8 
56.2 
57.6 
58.4 
58.6 
55.1 
62.3 
58.8 
Number of persons living in household 
190,989 
202,315 
259 
427 
280 
234 
284 
255 
Characteristics 
Native Flawaiian or 
Other Pacific Islander 
White 
More than one race reported 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
Operators number 
16 
20 
74,631 
76,295 
134 
189 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
16 
15 
67,811 
68,720 
119 
156 
Female 
- 
5 
6,820 
7,575 
15 
33 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
9 
5 
37,648 
36,969 
61 
86 
Other 
7 
15 
36,983 
39,326 
73 
103 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
7 
10 
51,708 
54,198 
108 
150 
Not on farm operated 
9 
10 
22,923 
22,097 
26 
39 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
9 
5 
31,677 
28,210 
59 
62 
Any 
7 
15 
42,954 
48,085 
75 
127 
1 to 49 days 
- 
- 
7,004 
9,270 
3 
23 
50 to 99 days 
3 
- 
3,005 
3,644 
5 
11 
1 00 to 1 99 days 
- 
6 
5,476 
5,869 
8 
14 
200 days or more 
4 
9 
27,469 
29,302 
59 
79 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
3 
- 
2,122 
2,292 
1 
4 
3 or 4 years 
- 
5 
3,161 
3,784 
5 
18 
5 to 9 years 
2 
9 
8,194 
10,214 
18 
31 
1 0 years or more 
11 
6 
61,154 
60,005 
110 
136 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
3 
(NA) 
1,527 
(NA) 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
- 
(NA) 
2,670 
(NA) 
5 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
2 
(NA) 
7,138 
(NA) 
12 
(NA) 
1 0 years or more 
11 
(NA) 
63,296 
(NA) 
117 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
- 
- 
511 
592 
2 
2 
25 to 34 years 
3 
- 
4,534 
4,088 
8 
5 
35 to 44 years 
- 
1 
7,644 
9,588 
13 
25 
45 to 54 years 
7 
14 
16,774 
20,770 
32 
47 
55 to 64 years 
- 
- 
21,614 
20,156 
35 
74 
65 to 74 years 
2 
- 
14,630 
13,442 
31 
19 
75 years and over 
4 
5 
8,924 
7,659 
13 
17 
Average age 
56.1 
54.8 
57.8 
56.2 
57.8 
56.0 
Number of persons living in household 
37 
50 
189,791 
200,874 
338 
475 
54 Illinois 
2012 Census of Agriculture - State Data 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
