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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About San Diego County
San Diego County sits within the Southern California Coastal Plains and Mountains (MLRA 19) region. Elevation averages about 2,425 feet.
Temperatures in San Diego County range from a January mean low of 41°F to a July mean high near 91°F. Annual precipitation averages 13.0 inches.
San Diego County ran 4,031 farms, 179,330 acres of farmland, and 14,377 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: foliage plants, flowering plants, potted, and cut flowers & cut cultivated greens.
Quick Facts
| Region | Southern California |
| Top Commodities | Floriculture, Fruit & tree nuts, Vegetables, Dairy, Poultry, Berries |
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 San Diego County.
NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)
900 Canterbury Pl Ste 320, Escondido, CA 92025
FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)
81-077 Indio Blvd, Indio, CA 92201
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 San Diego County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 40% of farmland in San Diego County, about 71,732 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around November and forage peaks in December. 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 San Diego County
Farms in San Diego County average 44 acres, and about 81% are small operations. Roughly 29% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 38,384 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in San Diego County
San Diego County's top commodities in the 2022 Census were foliage plants, flowering plants, potted, and cut flowers & cut cultivated greens. That mix shapes which conservation practices tend to be worth asking about — for dairies, waste storage, nutrient management, and Dairy Margin Coverage, and for specialty-crop acres, high tunnels, irrigation efficiency, and NAP coverage. Your local NRCS office sets the ranking pools each year and can tell you which ones your operation falls into.
Programs for San Diego County Operations
Based on San Diego County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
EQIP emphasizes water conservation and integrated pest management in avocado and citrus orchards. Beginning Farmer programs support small-scale organic operations and community-supported agriculture serving urban markets.
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 Imperial County, California, Orange County, California, and Riverside County, California. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in San Diego County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the California guide: California Farm Programs Guide
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