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 
68,050 
79,280 
281 
296 
87 
74 
992 
1,052 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
60,280 
69,320 
245 
238 
76 
62 
838 
914 
Female 
7,770 
9,960 
36 
58 
11 
12 
154 
138 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
28,454 
30,849 
104 
130 
35 
34 
422 
414 
Other 
39,596 
48,431 
177 
166 
52 
40 
570 
638 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
55,153 
64,427 
248 
257 
69 
61 
629 
692 
Not on farm operated 
12,897 
14,853 
33 
39 
18 
13 
363 
360 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
25,071 
26,299 
80 
100 
25 
37 
400 
368 
Any 
42,979 
52,981 
201 
196 
62 
37 
592 
684 
1 to 49 days 
4,950 
7,951 
21 
39 
9 
6 
87 
110 
50 to 99 days 
3,204 
4,535 
18 
19 
6 
2 
46 
81 
100 to 199 days 
5,808 
7,661 
77 
45 
4 
5 
67 
84 
200 days or more 
29,017 
32,834 
85 
93 
43 
24 
392 
409 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
2,132 
3,538 
8 
19 
1 
2 
41 
41 
3 or 4 years 
3,112 
5,216 
6 
52 
4 
11 
50 
56 
5 to 9 years 
9,728 
12,724 
38 
56 
33 
27 
98 
190 
10 years or more 
53,078 
57,802 
229 
169 
49 
34 
803 
765 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
1,465 
(NA) 
6 
(NA) 
(NA) 
29 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
2,514 
(NA) 
6 
(NA) 
3 
(NA) 
50 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
8,227 
(NA) 
25 
(NA) 
32 
(NA) 
80 
(NA) 
1 0 years or more 
55,844 
(NA) 
244 
(NA) 
52 
(NA) 
833 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
259 
366 
- 
- 
- 
- 
4 
- 
25 to 34 years 
2,564 
3,081 
2 
12 
2 
4 
13 
23 
35 to 44 years 
6,768 
9,698 
21 
42 
13 
10 
45 
90 
45 to 54 years 
14,141 
18,665 
104 
95 
38 
17 
190 
206 
55 to 64 years 
19,757 
22,275 
80 
94 
16 
17 
335 
342 
65 to 74 years 
16,131 
16,279 
48 
35 
13 
21 
246 
237 
75 years and over 
8,430 
8,916 
26 
18 
5 
5 
159 
154 
Average age 
59.2 
57.8 
58.0 
54.9 
54.0 
56.8 
62.3 
60.7 
Number of persons living in household 
167,766 
199,719 
717 
846 
248 
210 
2,253 
2,606 
Characteristics 
Native Hawaiian or 
Other Pacific Islander 
White 
More than one race reported 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
Operators 
number 
4 
4 
66,460 
77,384 
226 
470 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
3 
2 
58,930 
67,713 
188 
391 
Female 
1 
2 
7,530 
9,671 
38 
79 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
3 
1 
27,790 
30,037 
100 
233 
Other 
1 
3 
38,670 
47,347 
126 
237 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
4 
3 
54,025 
63,024 
178 
390 
Not on farm operated ... 
- 
1 
12,435 
14,360 
48 
80 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
- 
1 
24,485 
25,642 
81 
151 
Any 
4 
3 
41,975 
51,742 
145 
319 
1 to 49 days 
- 
2 
4,820 
7,733 
13 
61 
50 to 99 days 
1 
- 
3,113 
4,408 
20 
25 
100 to 199 days 
3 
- 
5,637 
7,475 
20 
52 
200 days or more 
1 
28,405 
32,126 
92 
181 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
- 
- 
2,075 
3,459 
7 
17 
3 or 4 years 
- 
1 
3,041 
5,070 
11 
26 
5 to 9 years 
- 
1 
9,520 
12,372 
39 
78 
10 years or more 
4 
2 
51,824 
56,483 
169 
349 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
- 
(NA) 
1,426 
(NA) 
4 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
- 
(NA) 
2,445 
(NA) 
10 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
- 
(NA) 
8,061 
(NA) 
29 
(NA) 
10 years or more 
4 
(NA) 
54,528 
(NA) 
183 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
- 
- 
255 
366 
- 
- 
25 to 34 years 
- 
- 
2,543 
3,023 
4 
19 
35 to 44 years 
- 
- 
6,671 
9,508 
18 
48 
45 to 54 years 
- 
1 
13,758 
18,252 
51 
94 
55 to 64 years 
4 
2 
19,251 
21,676 
71 
144 
65 to 74 years 
- 
- 
15,769 
15,878 
55 
108 
75 years and over 
" 
1 
8,213 
8,681 
27 
57 
Average age 
61.5 
61.8 
59.2 
57.8 
59.8 
59.1 
Number of persons living in household 
17 
8 
163,989 
194,842 
542 
1,207 
54 Tennessee 
2012 Census of Agriculture - State Data 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
