San Bernardino County, California: USDA programs and conservation funding

809
Farms & Ranches
37K
Acres in Agriculture
45
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$36.9M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Milk, Cattle, Sod, Field Crops, Other, Flowering Plants, Potted
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

San Bernardino County, California has 809 farms working 36,659 agricultural acres (average 45 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $36.9 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Milk, Cattle, Sod. Vegetation typically peaks in Nov, 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 San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County lies in the Mojave Basin and Range (MLRA 30) region. Elevation averages about 1,298 feet.

San Bernardino County averages 6.6 inches of precipitation annually (1991–2020 NOAA normals). Annual mean temperature is 66.9°F.

San Bernardino County's agricultural base centers on milk, cattle, and sod. The 2022 Ag Census recorded 809 farms working 36,659 acres. Cattle inventory stands at 6,111 head.


Quick Facts

RegionInland Empire
Top CommoditiesDairy, Poultry, Cattle & calves, Fruit & tree nuts, Vegetables, Floriculture

Current Conditions

Drought status: Abnormally Dry (D0) — monitor conditions.

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 San Bernardino County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

25864 Business Center Dr Ste K, Redlands, CA 92374

(909) 799-7407

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

44811 Date Ave, Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 945-2604

This county also has 2 additional NRCS offices. 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 San Bernardino County Operations

Based on San Bernardino County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:

EQIP supports dairy waste management systems and water conservation in desert agricultural areas. Disaster assistance is important for operations facing wildfire, drought, and extreme weather across diverse elevation zones.

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

Counties Bordering San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County shares borders with La Paz County, Arizona, Mohave County, Arizona, Inyo County, California, Kern County, California, Los Angeles County, California, and Orange County, California. Conservation priorities, EQIP ranking pools, and drought conditions often overlap across county lines — it's worth checking neighboring county pages if your operation spans multiple jurisdictions.

Your Next Steps in San Bernardino 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

0.08
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.08
Peak season (Nov)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for San Bernardino 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.