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 
88,637 
92,856 
48 
44 
72 
97 
28 
31 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
81,529 
84,404 
38 
38 
46 
81 
26 
29 
Female 
7,108 
8,452 
10 
6 
26 
16 
2 
2 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
47,949 
48,637 
9 
20 
32 
51 
15 
15 
Other 
40,688 
44,219 
39 
24 
40 
46 
13 
16 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
63,911 
65,736 
34 
40 
31 
77 
19 
26 
Not on farm operated 
24,726 
27,120 
14 
4 
41 
20 
9 
5 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
37,692 
35,689 
10 
6 
27 
37 
8 
9 
Any 
50,945 
57,167 
38 
38 
45 
60 
20 
22 
1 to 49 days 
7,535 
9,827 
2 
1 
12 
18 
3 
4 
50 to 99 days 
3,331 
4,306 
- 
- 
8 
8 
3 
4 
100 to 199 days 
6,469 
7,065 
9 
7 
3 
3 
5 
6 
200 days or more 
33,610 
35,969 
27 
30 
22 
31 
9 
8 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
2,285 
2,947 
4 
4 
6 
3 
1 
- 
3 or 4 years 
3,616 
4,325 
2 
6 
7 
7 
2 
6 
5 to 9 years 
10,048 
11,480 
11 
3 
12 
12 
2 
3 
10 years or more 
72,688 
74,104 
31 
31 
47 
75 
23 
22 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
1,671 
(NA) 
2 
(NA) 
6 
(NA) 
1 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
2,807 
(NA) 
2 
(NA) 
6 
(NA) 
2 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
8,373 
(NA) 
11 
(NA) 
11 
(NA) 
2 
(NA) 
10 years or more 
75,786 
(NA) 
33 
(NA) 
49 
(NA) 
23 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
595 
686 
1 
1 
- 
- 
- 
3 
25 to 34 years 
5,647 
5,592 
3 
5 
6 
- 
- 
2 
35 to 44 years 
9,824 
12,358 
5 
3 
18 
15 
5 
3 
45 to 54 years 
20,765 
25,023 
11 
22 
17 
10 
6 
8 
55 to 64 years 
25,701 
23,201 
15 
10 
19 
42 
12 
9 
65 to 74 years 
16,171 
15,999 
12 
2 
4 
23 
4 
3 
75 years and over 
9,934 
9,997 
1 
1 
8 
7 
1 
3 
Average age 
57.1 
56.1 
54.7 
50.5 
53.3 
59.6 
56.5 
51.8 
Number of persons living in household 
231,472 
244,898 
130 
116 
304 
261 
65 
79 
Characteristics 
Native Plawaiian or 
Other Pacific Islander 
White 
More than one race reported 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
Operators 
number 
4 
5 
88,402 
92,636 
83 
43 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
4 
4 
81,354 
84,214 
61 
38 
Female 
" 
1 
7,048 
8,422 
22 
5 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
1 
4 
47,860 
48,524 
32 
23 
Other 
3 
1 
40,542 
44,112 
51 
20 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
3 
4 
63,758 
65,556 
66 
33 
Not on farm operated ... 
1 
1 
24,644 
27,080 
17 
10 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
3 
3 
37,622 
35,614 
22 
20 
Any 
1 
2 
50,780 
57,022 
61 
23 
1 to 49 days 
- 
1 
7,511 
9,795 
7 
8 
50 to 99 days 
- 
- 
3,319 
4,292 
1 
2 
100 to 199 days 
- 
1 
6,442 
7,047 
10 
1 
200 days or more 
1 
- 
33,508 
35,888 
43 
12 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
- 
- 
2,274 
2,939 
- 
1 
3 or 4 years 
- 
- 
3,596 
4,303 
9 
3 
5 to 9 years 
1 
1 
10,011 
11,456 
11 
5 
10 years or more 
3 
4 
72,521 
73,938 
63 
34 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
- 
(NA) 
1,662 
(NA) 
- 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
- 
(NA) 
2,789 
(NA) 
8 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
1 
(NA) 
8,339 
(NA) 
9 
(NA) 
1 0 years or more 
3 
(NA) 
75,612 
(NA) 
66 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
- 
- 
594 
681 
- 
1 
25 to 34 years 
- 
- 
5,631 
5,584 
7 
1 
35 to 44 years 
- 
2 
9,789 
12,324 
7 
11 
45 to 54 years 
1 
2 
20,719 
24,969 
11 
12 
55 to 64 years 
2 
- 
25,620 
23,128 
33 
12 
65 to 74 years 
1 
1 
16,133 
15,965 
17 
5 
75 years and over 
“ 
- 
9,916 
9,985 
8 
1 
Average age 
59.0 
51.6 
57.1 
56.1 
58.1 
51.6 
Number of persons living in household 
10 
15 
230,762 
244,316 
201 
111 
54 Iowa 
2012 Census of Agriculture - State Data 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
