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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Baca County
Baca County is part of the Central High Plains, Southern Part land resource region (MLRA 67B). The county's mean elevation is about 4,308 feet.
Based on 1991–2020 normals, Baca County sees 16.6 in of rain, a 245-day growing season, a 54.1°F mean annual temperature.
Baca County carries 25,749 head of cattle (2022 Ag Census). Pastureland totals 504,362 acres. 696 farms operate in the county, averaging 1,776 acres each.
Quick Facts
| Region | Southeast Plains |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Corn, Grain sorghum, Wheat, Soybeans, Horses |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Severe Drought (D2).
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 Baca County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
27200 Us Highway 287, Springfield, CO 81073
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 Baca County Operations
Based on Baca County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Soil conservation and drought resilience are critical in this semi-arid environment. Conservation programs emphasize no-till farming, crop residue management, and CRP enrollment to prevent wind erosion and maintain soil health.
Not sure which programs fit? Run our free eligibility screener. Two minutes, personalized action packet.
Local Conservation Priorities
EQIP applications addressing local priorities score higher in ranking.
Baca County Conservation Priorities
Baca County sits at the far southeast corner of Colorado. This is Dust Bowl country, where dryland farming and cattle ranching both depend on moisture that is never guaranteed. Many operations combine grain farming with cow-calf ranching. Conservation priorities reflect the wind erosion and wildlife concerns of this High Plains landscape:
- Lesser prairie chicken habitat (dedicated funding): Baca County is within the lesser prairie chicken range. NRCS may offer a separate EQIP funding pool for practices that benefit this species, including native grass restoration, CRP management for habitat, and grazing plans that maintain grassland structure during nesting season.
- Wind erosion control: Cover crops, no-till, residue management, and windbreak establishment on dryland cropland. This was Dust Bowl ground, and soil conservation remains the foundational priority.
- Grassland restoration: Converting marginal cropland or expired CRP to native shortgrass prairie that can support both cattle grazing and wildlife habitat.
- Livestock water development: Wells, pipelines, and tanks that improve cattle distribution on rangeland and reduce dependence on stock ponds that fail during drought.
- Prescribed grazing: Grazing management plans that protect fragile shortgrass soils and maintain ground cover through dry periods.
Insurance note: Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) can help cow-calf operations manage price risk on feeder cattle. PRF insurance is a strong fit for Baca County rangeland. Precipitation is highly variable, and PRF may provide indemnity payments during the dry stretches that are a fact of life on the southeast Colorado plains.
Confirm current priorities with your local NRCS office. Annual LWG meetings are open to all producers.
Nearby Counties
Operators in Baca County frequently work or lease ground across county lines. Neighboring counties include Bent County, Colorado, Las Animas County, Colorado, Prowers County, Colorado, Morton County, Kansas, Stanton County, Kansas, and Union County, New Mexico. USDA programs and local NRCS priorities may differ from one jurisdiction to the next.
Your Next Steps in Baca County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Colorado guide: Colorado Farm Programs Guide
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