Los Angeles County, California: USDA programs and conservation funding

766
Farms & Ranches
69K
Acres in Agriculture
90
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$1.4M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Field Crops, Other, Flowering Plants, Potted, Specialty Animals, Other, Mushrooms, Equine
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Los Angeles County, California has 766 farms working 69,224 agricultural acres (average 90 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $1.4 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Field Crops, Other, Flowering Plants, Potted, Specialty Animals, Other. Vegetation typically peaks in Apr, 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 Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County sits within the Southern California Coastal Plains and Mountains (MLRA 19) region. Elevation averages about 2,265 feet.

Temperatures in Los Angeles County range from a January mean low of 41°F to a July mean high near 89°F. Annual precipitation averages 15.1 inches.

Los Angeles County ran 766 farms, 69,224 acres of farmland, and 6,252 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: flowering plants, potted, mushrooms, and equine.


Quick Facts

RegionSouthern California
Top CommoditiesFloriculture, Vegetables, Fruit & tree nuts, Horses, Cattle & calves, Berries

Current Conditions

Drought status: None (None).

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor · Updated 2026-04-14

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 Los Angeles County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

44811 Date Ave, Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 945-2604

This county also has 1 additional NRCS office. View all offices

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 Los Angeles County Operations

Based on Los Angeles County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:

Urban agriculture programs support community gardens and small-scale farming operations within metropolitan areas. Conservation practices emphasize water efficiency and protecting agricultural lands from further urban development.

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 Kern County, California, Orange County, California, San Bernardino County, California, and Ventura County, California. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in Los Angeles County

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

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

Related program guides

EQIP Water Development

Vegetation Baseline

0.60
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.61
Peak season (Apr)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Los Angeles 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.