← California Farm Programs Guide
Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Napa County
Napa County sits within the Central California Coast Range (MLRA 15) region. Elevation averages about 1,301 feet.
Temperatures in Napa County range from a January mean low of 38°F to a July mean high near 89°F. Annual precipitation averages 31.7 inches.
Napa County ran 1,772 farms, 242,403 acres of farmland, and 11,989 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, honey, and equine.
Quick Facts
| Region | North Bay |
| Top Commodities | Fruit & tree nuts, Cattle & calves, Berries, Honey, Vegetables, Horses |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Abnormally Dry (D0) — monitor conditions.
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 Napa County.
NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)
1303 Jefferson St Ste 500b, Napa, CA 94559
FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)
810 Vaca Valley Parkway, Vacaville, CA 95688
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 Napa County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 28% of farmland in Napa County, about 66,872 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around November and forage peaks in March. 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 Napa County
Farms in Napa County average 137 acres, and about 58% are small operations. Roughly 22% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 59,440 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Napa County
Given the operation mix in Napa County, the practices that most often come up are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing for grazing operations; pollinator habitat plantings for apiaries; and brush management for rangeland. Whether any of them scores well depends on your county's Local Working Group priorities, which NRCS can walk you through before you apply.
Programs for Napa County Operations
Based on Napa County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
EQIP supports vineyard water conservation and hillside erosion control practices. CSP promotes sustainable viticulture including cover crops and integrated pest management in premium wine grape production.
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 Lake County, California, Solano County, California, Sonoma County, California, and Yolo County, California. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Napa 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.