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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Solano County
Solano County sits within the Central California Coast Range (MLRA 15) region. Elevation averages about 57 feet.
Temperatures in Solano County range from a January mean low of 39°F to a July mean high near 90°F. Annual precipitation averages 20.8 inches.
Solano County ran 712 farms, 339,476 acres of farmland, and 50,770 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, sheep, and corn.
Quick Facts
| Region | Bay Area |
| Top Commodities | Vegetables, Fruit & tree nuts, Cattle & calves, Sheep, Corn, Wheat |
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 Solano County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
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 Solano County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 47% of farmland in Solano County, about 159,370 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 Solano County
Farms in Solano County average 477 acres, and about 45% are small operations. Roughly 24% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 128,058 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Solano County
Given the operation mix in Solano County, the practices that most often come up are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing for grazing operations; cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election for row-crop ground; 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 Solano County Operations
Based on Solano County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
EQIP supports processing tomato production and water conservation in diverse cropping systems. CSP promotes soil health and integrated pest management across the county's varied agricultural landscape.
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 Contra Costa County, California, Marin County, California, Napa County, California, Sacramento 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 Solano 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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