Anchorage County, Alaska: USDA programs and conservation funding

401
Farms & Ranches
40K
Acres in Agriculture
99
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$927K
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Tomatoes, Cut Flowers & Cut Cultivated Greens, Honey, Foliage Plants
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Anchorage County, Alaska has 401 farms working 39,532 agricultural acres (average 99 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $0.9 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Tomatoes, Cut Flowers & Cut Cultivated Greens. Vegetation typically peaks in Aug, defining the primary growing season.

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Farm Programs & Local Resources

Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error

About Anchorage Municipality

Anchorage Municipality sits within the Cook Inlet Mountains (MLRA 223) region. Elevation averages about 3,993 feet.

Temperatures in Anchorage Municipality range from a January mean low of 12°F to a July mean high near 59°F. Annual precipitation averages 68.5 inches. Expect about 153 frost-free days.

Anchorage Municipality ran 401 farms, 39,532 acres of farmland, and 1,348 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, tomatoes, and cut flowers & cut cultivated greens.


Quick Facts

RegionSouthcentral Alaska
Top CommoditiesFloriculture, Vegetables, Cattle & calves, Honey, Horses, Goats

Your Local USDA Offices

Your nearest USDA Service Center houses both NRCS (conservation programs like EQIP and CSP) and FSA (loans, disaster assistance, farm numbers). Here are the offices serving Anchorage Municipality.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

1508 Bogard Rd, Wasilla, AK 99654

(907) 373-6492

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

800 E. Palmer-Wasilla Hwy., Palmer, AK 99645

(907) 761-7700

Office info is from USDA’s published directory. Call ahead to confirm hours before visiting.

What to do when you call: Ask to schedule a meeting with a conservation planner (for EQIP/CSP) or a loan officer (for FSA programs). Mention the type of operation you run and what improvements you're considering.


Programs for Anchorage Municipality Operations

Based on Anchorage Municipality's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:

Programs emphasize urban agriculture development and season extension techniques for market gardening. Support includes high tunnel construction and sustainable production practices for Alaska's challenging growing conditions.

Not sure which programs fit? Run our free eligibility screener. Two minutes, personalized action packet.


Local Conservation Priorities

Each county's NRCS Local Working Group sets the conservation practices that score highest for EQIP funding. Knowing your county's priorities before you apply can significantly improve your ranking.

How to find your county's priorities:

  • Call your local NRCS office and ask: "What practices is the Local Working Group prioritizing this year?"
  • Ask which EQIP ranking pool your operation fits (there may be separate pools for livestock, cropland, forestry, etc.)
  • Check your state NRCS website for published ranking criteria

Bordering Counties

If your operation extends into or you compare conditions against adjacent counties, see Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska and Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in Anchorage Municipality

  1. Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
  2. Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
  3. Read the Alaska guide: Alaska Farm Programs Guide

Part of Farmer's Navigator. Built by ranchers. Every guide on this site is free.

Vegetation Baseline

-0.06
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.22
Peak season (Aug)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Anchorage County

Check drought statusCurrent USDM conditions and historical drought data.PRF rainfall analysis78 years of grid-level rainfall data for hay and grazing insurance.Estimate EQIP costsSee what NRCS may cover and your estimated out-of-pocket share.Disaster triageLost livestock or pasture? Find your disaster programs and deadlines.See all deadlinesEvery USDA program deadline in one place.