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 
28,008 
29,524 
1,318 
1,482 
31 
37 
10 
10 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
23,765 
24,938 
1,058 
1,224 
20 
31 
8 
8 
Female 
4,243 
4,586 
260 
258 
11 
6 
2 
2 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
15,434 
14,957 
578 
576 
14 
13 
5 
4 
Other 
12,574 
14,567 
740 
906 
17 
24 
5 
6 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
22,057 
22,624 
1,061 
1,115 
26 
27 
7 
9 
Not on farm operated 
5,951 
6,900 
257 
367 
5 
10 
3 
1 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
12,116 
11,746 
422 
463 
14 
16 
4 
2 
Any 
15,892 
17,778 
896 
1,019 
17 
21 
6 
8 
1 to 49 days 
2,688 
3,453 
64 
69 
2 
7 
2 
- 
50 to 99 days 
1,232 
1,488 
53 
67 
- 
2 
- 
- 
100 to 199 days 
2,383 
2,687 
192 
179 
1 
4 
3 
3 
200 days or more 
9,589 
10,150 
587 
704 
14 
8 
1 
5 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
962 
1,071 
57 
38 
2 
2 
- 
- 
3 or 4 years 
1,195 
1,663 
69 
73 
- 
1 
3 
1 
5 to 9 years 
3,851 
4,448 
133 
194 
5 
9 
- 
2 
10 years or more 
22,000 
22,342 
1,059 
1,177 
24 
25 
7 
7 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
690 
(NA) 
39 
(NA) 
2 
(NA) 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
882 
(NA) 
53 
(NA) 
- 
(NA) 
3 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
3,141 
(NA) 
115 
(NA) 
5 
(NA) 
- 
(NA) 
10 years or more 
23,295 
(NA) 
1,111 
(NA) 
24 
(NA) 
7 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
123 
119 
21 
8 
- 
- 
- 
1 
25 to 34 years 
1,264 
1,177 
37 
69 
1 
3 
- 
- 
35 to 44 years 
2,690 
3,078 
148 
160 
4 
1 
1 
2 
45 to 54 years 
5,867 
7,904 
296 
453 
7 
11 
- 
- 
55 to 64 years 
8,746 
8,409 
438 
399 
10 
16 
4 
7 
65 to 74 years 
5,825 
5,255 
232 
277 
7 
6 
5 
- 
75 years and over 
3,493 
3,582 
146 
116 
2 
- 
- 
Average age 
58.9 
57.8 
57.7 
55.9 
56.6 
55.0 
63.4 
52.0 
Number of persons living in household 
68,921 
74,193 
4,012 
4,784 
91 
109 
20 
37 
Characteristics 
Native Plawaiian or 
Other Pacific Islander 
White 
More than one race reported 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
Operators 
number 
7 
6 
26,494 
27,841 
148 
148 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
7 
2 
22,549 
23,571 
123 
102 
Female 
- 
4 
3,945 
4,270 
25 
46 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
2 
4 
14,758 
14,289 
77 
71 
Other 
5 
2 
11,736 
13,552 
71 
77 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
4 
4 
20,838 
21,355 
121 
114 
Not on farm operated ... 
3 
2 
5,656 
6,486 
27 
34 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
1 
4 
11,620 
11,194 
55 
67 
Any 
6 
2 
14,874 
16,647 
93 
81 
1 to 49 days 
2 
2 
2,604 
3,361 
14 
14 
50 to 99 days 
- 
- 
1,171 
1,416 
8 
3 
100 to 199 days 
1 
- 
2,168 
2,489 
18 
12 
200 days or more 
3 
- 
8,931 
9,381 
53 
52 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
- 
- 
895 
1,022 
8 
9 
3 or 4 years 
- 
2 
1,112 
1,578 
11 
8 
5 to 9 years 
6 
- 
3,677 
4,222 
30 
21 
10 years or more 
1 
4 
20,810 
21,019 
99 
110 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
- 
(NA) 
645 
(NA) 
4 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
- 
(NA) 
819 
(NA) 
7 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
6 
(NA) 
2,993 
(NA) 
22 
(NA) 
1 0 years or more 
1 
(NA) 
22,037 
(NA) 
115 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
- 
- 
101 
108 
1 
2 
25 to 34 years 
- 
2 
1,218 
1,097 
8 
6 
35 to 44 years 
5 
- 
2,502 
2,897 
30 
18 
45 to 54 years 
- 
- 
5,536 
7,400 
28 
40 
55 to 64 years 
- 
4 
8,261 
7,945 
33 
38 
65 to 74 years 
2 
- 
5,546 
4,948 
33 
24 
75 years and over 
“ 
- 
3,330 
3,446 
15 
20 
Average age 
49.1 
52.3 
58.9 
57.9 
56.1 
58.1 
Number of persons living in household 
20 
16 
64,375 
68,873 
403 
374 
52 Montana 
2012 Census of Agriculture - State Data 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
