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 
31,989 
31,169 
817 
748 
5 
19 
6 
10 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
29,656 
28,775 
677 
612 
5 
16 
6 
10 
Female 
2,333 
2,394 
140 
136 
- 
3 
- 
- 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
18,844 
18,775 
494 
427 
- 
10 
2 
5 
Other 
13,145 
12,394 
323 
321 
5 
9 
4 
5 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
24,334 
23,556 
670 
600 
3 
14 
5 
10 
Not on farm operated 
7,655 
7,613 
147 
148 
2 
5 
1 
- 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
14,049 
13,679 
351 
299 
- 
9 
2 
1 
Any 
17,940 
17,490 
466 
449 
5 
10 
4 
9 
1 to 49 days 
2,991 
3,592 
67 
69 
- 
2 
- 
2 
50 to 99 days 
1,190 
1,270 
54 
44 
- 
5 
- 
3 
1 00 to 1 99 days 
2,208 
2,293 
67 
67 
3 
- 
2 
- 
200 days or more 
11,551 
10,335 
278 
269 
2 
3 
2 
4 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
787 
775 
20 
28 
- 
- 
- 
- 
3 or 4 years 
1,268 
1,178 
43 
33 
- 
- 
- 
3 
5 to 9 years 
3,569 
3,845 
113 
103 
4 
5 
- 
1 
1 0 years or more 
26,365 
25,371 
641 
584 
1 
14 
6 
6 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
535 
(NA) 
18 
(NA) 
(NA) 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
949 
(NA) 
34 
(NA) 
- 
(NA) 
- 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
3,000 
(NA) 
92 
(NA) 
3 
(NA) 
- 
(NA) 
1 0 years or more 
27,505 
(NA) 
673 
(NA) 
2 
(NA) 
6 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
258 
242 
3 
13 
- 
- 
- 
1 
25 to 34 years 
2,631 
2,113 
71 
41 
- 
- 
- 
- 
35 to 44 years 
3,922 
4,045 
99 
129 
- 
2 
- 
1 
45 to 54 years 
7,445 
8,700 
234 
202 
1 
3 
1 
5 
55 to 64 years 
9,182 
7,835 
213 
175 
3 
9 
2 
2 
65 to 74 years 
5,263 
4,938 
137 
110 
1 
3 
3 
- 
75 years and over 
3,288 
3,296 
60 
78 
- 
2 
- 
1 
Average age 
55.9 
55.7 
54.5 
54.6 
60.4 
59.4 
59.8 
49.8 
Number of persons living in household 
84,820 
82,875 
2,511 
2,549 
11 
44 
10 
(D) 
Characteristics 
Native Flawaiian or 
Other Pacific Islander 
White 
More than one race reported 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
Operators number 
- 
1 
31,052 
30,299 
109 
92 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
- 
1 
28,869 
28,062 
99 
74 
Female 
- 
- 
2,183 
2,237 
10 
18 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
- 
- 
18,289 
18,278 
59 
55 
Other 
- 
1 
12,763 
12,021 
50 
37 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
- 
- 
23,574 
22,859 
82 
73 
Not on farm operated 
- 
1 
7,478 
7,440 
27 
19 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
- 
- 
13,668 
13,337 
28 
33 
Any 
- 
1 
17,384 
16,962 
81 
59 
1 to 49 days 
- 
- 
2,919 
3,510 
5 
9 
50 to 99 days 
- 
- 
1,129 
1,216 
7 
2 
1 00 to 1 99 days 
- 
- 
2,122 
2,212 
14 
14 
200 days or more 
- 
1 
11,214 
10,024 
55 
34 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
- 
1 
761 
740 
6 
6 
3 or 4 years 
- 
- 
1,223 
1,135 
2 
7 
5 to 9 years 
- 
- 
3,422 
3,725 
30 
11 
1 0 years or more 
- 
- 
25,646 
24,699 
71 
68 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
(NA) 
514 
(NA) 
3 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
- 
(NA) 
913 
(NA) 
2 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
- 
(NA) 
2,880 
(NA) 
25 
(NA) 
1 0 years or more 
- 
(NA) 
26,745 
(NA) 
79 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
- 
- 
255 
228 
- 
- 
25 to 34 years 
- 
- 
2,533 
2,061 
27 
11 
35 to 44 years 
- 
- 
3,812 
3,900 
11 
13 
45 to 54 years 
- 
1 
7,188 
8,464 
21 
25 
55 to 64 years 
- 
- 
8,937 
7,630 
27 
19 
65 to 74 years 
- 
- 
5,113 
4,807 
9 
18 
75 years and over 
- 
- 
3,214 
3,209 
14 
6 
Average age 
- 
51.0 
56.0 
55.7 
51.8 
54.3 
Number of persons living in household 
- 
(D) 
81,975 
79,983 
313 
261 
52 South Dakota 
2012 Census of Agriculture - State Data 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
