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 
21,489 
23,618 
44 
38 
20 
19 
29 
35 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
18,784 
20,399 
33 
27 
12 
17 
26 
33 
Female 
2,705 
3,219 
11 
11 
8 
2 
3 
2 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
9,164 
9,799 
28 
9 
7 
9 
12 
21 
Other 
12,325 
13,819 
16 
29 
13 
10 
17 
14 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
18,080 
20,209 
41 
31 
11 
13 
18 
24 
Not on farm operated 
3,409 
3,409 
3 
7 
9 
6 
11 
11 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
8,092 
8,074 
19 
2 
5 
9 
12 
12 
Any 
13,397 
15,544 
25 
36 
15 
10 
17 
23 
1 to 49 days 
1,563 
2,428 
7 
2 
2 
1 
5 
3 
50 to 99 days 
1,062 
1,149 
2 
- 
5 
2 
- 
5 
100 to 199 days 
2,022 
2,019 
2 
4 
- 
1 
- 
5 
200 days or more 
8,750 
9,948 
14 
30 
8 
6 
12 
10 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
583 
738 
- 
2 
- 
3 
2 
8 
3 or 4 years 
1,006 
1,407 
2 
4 
- 
- 
2 
1 
5 to 9 years 
2,936 
3,761 
9 
7 
9 
4 
5 
6 
10 years or more 
16,964 
17,712 
33 
25 
11 
12 
20 
20 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
454 
(NA) 
(NA) 
(NA) 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
850 
(NA) 
2 
(NA) 
- 
(NA) 
2 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
2,566 
(NA) 
5 
(NA) 
9 
(NA) 
5 
(NA) 
10 years or more 
17,619 
(NA) 
37 
(NA) 
11 
(NA) 
22 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
60 
98 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
25 to 34 years 
834 
903 
3 
1 
- 
- 
- 
2 
35 to 44 years 
1,988 
2,662 
8 
2 
8 
1 
6 
6 
45 to 54 years 
4,234 
5,618 
4 
21 
9 
5 
1 
7 
55 to 64 years 
6,309 
6,732 
14 
12 
1 
7 
13 
15 
65 to 74 years 
5,235 
4,915 
14 
1 
- 
6 
4 
1 
75 years and over 
2,829 
2,690 
1 
1 
2 
5 
4 
Average age 
59.7 
58.1 
56.5 
54.2 
(D) 
59.0 
61.0 
55.2 
Number of persons living in household 
52,765 
59,267 
132 
104 
52 
48 
(D) 
89 
Characteristics 
Native Plawaiian or 
Other Pacific Islander 
White 
More than one race reported 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
2012 
2007 
Operators 
number 
2 
4 
21,340 
23,463 
54 
59 
Sex of operator: 
Male 
2 
4 
18,668 
20,270 
43 
48 
Female 
- 
- 
2,672 
3,193 
11 
11 
Primary occupation: 
Farming 
- 
3 
9,094 
9,733 
23 
24 
Other 
2 
1 
12,246 
13,730 
31 
35 
Place of residence: 
On farm operated 
2 
4 
17,960 
20,083 
48 
54 
Not on farm operated ... 
- 
" 
3,380 
3,380 
6 
5 
Days of work off farm: 
None 
- 
2 
8,034 
8,027 
22 
22 
Any 
2 
2 
13,306 
15,436 
32 
37 
1 to 49 days 
- 
2 
1,545 
2,415 
4 
5 
50 to 99 days 
2 
- 
1,051 
1,141 
2 
1 
100 to 199 days 
- 
- 
2,014 
2,009 
6 
- 
200 days or more 
" 
- 
8,696 
9,871 
20 
31 
Years on present farm: 
2 years or less 
- 
- 
581 
724 
- 
1 
3 or 4 years 
- 
- 
1,001 
1,401 
1 
1 
5 to 9 years 
- 
- 
2,906 
3,734 
7 
10 
10 years or more 
2 
4 
16,852 
17,604 
46 
47 
Years operating any farm (see text): 
2 years or less 
- 
(NA) 
454 
(NA) 
- 
(NA) 
3 or 4 years 
- 
(NA) 
845 
(NA) 
1 
(NA) 
5 to 9 years 
- 
(NA) 
2,540 
(NA) 
7 
(NA) 
1 0 years or more 
2 
(NA) 
17,501 
(NA) 
46 
(NA) 
Age group: 
Under 25 years 
- 
- 
60 
98 
- 
- 
25 to 34 years 
- 
- 
828 
893 
3 
7 
35 to 44 years 
- 
- 
1,963 
2,650 
3 
3 
45 to 54 years 
- 
4 
4,198 
5,566 
22 
15 
55 to 64 years 
2 
- 
6,266 
6,678 
13 
20 
65 to 74 years 
- 
- 
5,209 
4,895 
8 
12 
75 years and over 
- 
2,816 
2,683 
5 
2 
Average age 
(D) 
51.3 
59.8 
58.1 
57.0 
55.0 
Number of persons living in household 
(D) 
11 
52,372 
58,860 
131 
155 
52 West Virginia 
2012 Census of Agriculture - State Data 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
