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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Franklin County
Franklin County sits within the Arkansas Valley and Ridges, Eastern Part (MLRA 118A) region. Elevation averages about 680 feet.
Temperatures in Franklin County range from a January mean low of 29°F to a July mean high near 91°F. Annual precipitation averages 52.6 inches.
Franklin County ran 682 farms, 182,421 acres of farmland, and 32,919 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, wheat, and equine.
Quick Facts
| Region | Northwest Arkansas |
| Top Commodities | Poultry, Cattle & calves, Fruit & tree nuts, Wheat, Horses, Goats |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Extreme Drought (D3).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor · Updated 2026-09-08
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 Franklin County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
2720 W Commercial St, Ozark, AR 72949
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.
Forage and Grazing in Franklin County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 48% of farmland in Franklin County, about 87,403 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around April and forage peaks in August. FSA sets the county’s normal grazing period separately; ask your office to confirm it, because LFP counts only the drought weeks that fall inside it.
Farm Structure in Franklin County
Farms in Franklin County average 267 acres, and about 14% are small operations. Roughly 23% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 280 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Franklin County
Franklin County's top commodities in the 2022 Census were cattle, grain, and wheat. That mix shapes which conservation practices tend to be worth asking about — for grazing operations, prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing; for row-crop ground, cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election; and for rangeland, brush management. Your local NRCS office sets the ranking pools each year and can tell you which ones your operation falls into.
Programs for Franklin County Operations
Based on Franklin County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Conservation programs address both bottomland crop production and mountain slope grazing management. Practices emphasize erosion control and riparian protection along the Arkansas River.
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 Crawford County, Arkansas, Johnson County, Arkansas, Logan County, Arkansas, Madison County, Arkansas, and Sebastian County, Arkansas. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Franklin County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Arkansas guide: Arkansas Farm Programs Guide
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