A 1968 analysis used 1964 data to compare all U.S. farm operator households on the bases of age, color, sex, educational attainment, and size of farm business (gross sales). In addition, 30 counties were selected for special income data study. Results from both studies indicated that relatively deprived farm operator households were: (1) composed of more older people; (2) disproportionately non-white (though the larger proportion was white); (3) educationally disadvantaged; and (4) concentrated in certain regions of the country. Evidence suggested that these disadvantaged families were appropriate recipients of anti-poverty aid, but due to large variations in farm operator households any economic or social development program for farm operator families should be carefully designed to include only those in need to avoid antagonizing those families above average in their annual incomes. (DA)