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 
7,755 
7,691 
15 
11 
71 
56 
80 
32 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
5,248 
5,465 
13 
1 
33 
33 
48 
27 
Female 
2,507 
2,226 
2 
10 
38 
23 
32 
5 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
3,878 
3,688 
12 
7 
18 
17 
22 
17 
Other 
3,877 
4,003 
3 
4 
53 
39 
58 
15 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
6,038 
6,093 
7 
1 
22 
32 
18 
13 
Not on farm operated 
1,717 
1,598 
8 
10 
49 
24 
62 
19 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
2,736 
2,418 
8 
- 
7 
11 
15 
4 
Any 
5,019 
5,273 
7 
11 
64 
45 
65 
28 
1 to 49 days 
743 
799 
- 
- 
10 
11 
39 
9 
50 to 99 days 
447 
437 
- 
- 
4 
4 
1 
2 
100 to 199 days 
759 
780 
- 
- 
- 
2 
3 
8 
200 days or more 
3,070 
3,257 
7 
11 
50 
28 
22 
9 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
328 
326 
- 
4 
- 
11 
24 
7 
3 or 4 years 
507 
442 
6 
- 
24 
- 
34 
- 
5 to 9 years 
1,119 
1,249 
3 
- 
32 
21 
4 
1 
10 years or more 
5,801 
5,674 
6 
7 
15 
24 
18 
24 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
223 
(NA) 
(NA) 
(NA) 
22 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
433 
(NA) 
- 
(NA) 
24 
(NA) 
33 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
993 
(NA) 
9 
(NA) 
27 
(NA) 
5 
(NA) 
10 years or more 
6,106 
(NA) 
6 
(NA) 
20 
(NA) 
20 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
60 
49 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
25 to 34 years 
359 
292 
- 
- 
16 
- 
4 
- 
35 to 44 years 
655 
972 
- 
1 
11 
15 
34 
5 
45 to 54 years 
1,933 
2,237 
3 
10 
23 
17 
17 
12 
55 to 64 years 
2,415 
2,227 
10 
- 
16 
21 
13 
7 
65 to 74 years 
1,556 
1,204 
2 
- 
5 
3 
4 
1 
75 years and over 
777 
710 
- 
- 
8 
7 
Average age 
57.8 
56.3 
59.1 
49.0 
47.5 
51.1 
(D) 
58.2 
Number of persons living in household 
20,126 
21,538 
34 
(D) 
266 
208 
270 
106 
Characteristics 
Native Plawaiian or 
Other Pacific Islander 
White 
More than one race reported 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
Operators number 
1 
3 
7,559 
7,569 
29 
20 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
1 
3 
5,143 
5,390 
10 
11 
Female 
- 
- 
2,416 
2,179 
19 
9 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
- 
3 
3,813 
3,630 
13 
14 
Other 
1 
- 
3,746 
3,939 
16 
6 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
1 
1 
5,971 
6,029 
19 
17 
Not on farm operated 
- 
2 
1,588 
1,540 
10 
3 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
- 
3 
2,700 
2,396 
6 
4 
Any 
1 
- 
4,859 
5,173 
23 
16 
1 to 49 days 
- 
- 
694 
775 
- 
4 
50 to 99 days 
1 
- 
439 
428 
2 
3 
100 to 199 days 
- 
- 
747 
768 
9 
2 
200 days or more 
- 
- 
2,979 
3,202 
12 
7 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
- 
- 
298 
302 
6 
2 
3 or 4 years 
- 
- 
436 
437 
7 
5 
5 to 9 years 
1 
- 
1,078 
1,224 
1 
3 
10 years or more 
3 
5,747 
5,606 
15 
10 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
- 
(NA) 
195 
(NA) 
6 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
- 
(NA) 
369 
(NA) 
7 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
1 
(NA) 
950 
(NA) 
1 
(NA) 
1 0 years or more 
(NA) 
6,045 
(NA) 
15 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
- 
- 
60 
48 
- 
1 
25 to 34 years 
- 
- 
338 
292 
1 
- 
35 to 44 years 
- 
- 
608 
948 
2 
3 
45 to 54 years 
1 
- 
1,878 
2,193 
11 
5 
55 to 64 years 
- 
2 
2,364 
2,190 
12 
7 
65 to 74 years 
- 
1 
1,542 
1,195 
3 
4 
75 years and over 
- 
769 
703 
- 
Average age 
(D) 
59.7 
58.0 
56.3 
55.8 
55.4 
Number of persons living in household 
(D) 
(D) 
19,500 
21,137 
(D) 
54 
52 Massachusetts 
2012 Census of Agriculture - State Data 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
