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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Tulare County
Tulare County sits within the Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi Mountains (MLRA 22A) region. Elevation averages about 2,314 feet.
Temperatures in Tulare County range from a January mean low of 31°F to a July mean high near 87°F. Annual precipitation averages 21.1 inches.
Tulare County ran 3,713 farms, 1,310,768 acres of farmland, and 1,079,082 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: milk, cattle, and corn.
Quick Facts
| Region | Central Valley |
| Top Commodities | Dairy, Fruit & tree nuts, Cattle & calves, Corn, 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 Tulare County.
NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)
44811 Date Ave, Lancaster, CA 93534
FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)
3530 W Orchard Ct, Visalia, CA 93277
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.
Forage and Grazing in Tulare County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 36% of farmland in Tulare County, about 466,254 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around February 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 Tulare County
Farms in Tulare County average 353 acres, and about 38% are small operations. Roughly 26% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 617,379 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Tulare County
Given the operation mix in Tulare County, the practices that most often come up are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing for grazing operations; waste storage, nutrient management, and Dairy Margin Coverage for dairies; and cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election for row-crop ground. 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 Tulare County Operations
Based on Tulare County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Dairy waste management and nutrient management planning address water quality concerns in intensive production areas. Orchard and vineyard operations implement precision agriculture technologies and deficit irrigation strategies to maximize productivity.
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 Fresno County, California, Inyo County, California, Kern County, California, and Kings County, California. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Tulare 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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