← California Farm Programs Guide
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
| Region | Southern California |
| Top Commodities | Floriculture, Vegetables, Fruit & tree nuts, Horses, Cattle & calves, Berries |
Current Conditions
Drought status: None (None).
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 Los Angeles County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
44811 Date Ave, Lancaster, CA 93534
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.
Forage and Grazing in Los Angeles County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 46% of farmland in Los Angeles County, about 31,536 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around March and forage peaks in April. 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 Los Angeles County
Farms in Los Angeles County average 90 acres, and about 80% are small operations. Roughly 22% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 14,057 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Los Angeles County
With equine and field crops, other in the mix in Los Angeles County, the practices worth raising with NRCS are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing (grazing operations); cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election (row-crop ground); and high tunnels, irrigation efficiency, and NAP coverage (specialty-crop acres). Ask which ranking pool your operation fits and what scored well locally last cycle — that conversation is usually more useful than guessing from the practice list.
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
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the California guide: California Farm Programs Guide
Part of Farmer's Navigator. Built by ranchers. Every guide on this site is free.