Last updated April 2026
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Georgia Farm Programs: Poultry Litter, Pecans, Cotton & Longleaf Pine

Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error

Quick Facts
Farms & Ranches ~41,400 (2022 USDA Census)
Top Commodities Poultry, cotton, cattle & calves, peanuts, pecans, blueberries, timber
Total Ag Land ~9.5 million acres
Average Farm Size ~229 acres
EQIP FY2026 Application Deadline Varies by area, contact your local NRCS office for current batching dates
CSP FY2026 Application Deadline Varies by area, contact your local NRCS office for current batching dates
State NRCS Office (706) 546-2272 · Athens, GA

Federal Programs in Georgia

Federal programs like EQIP, CSP, and FSA loans are available nationwide, but how they work in practice varies by state. Each state sets its own EQIP priorities, ranking criteria, and application deadlines. Below is how the federal programs apply specifically in Georgia. For full details on any program, read the federal program guides.

EQIP in Georgia

Georgia EQIP Priorities:

  • Water quality (nutrient management from poultry and livestock)
  • Grazing management on pasture and hayland
  • Soil health on cropland
  • Livestock water development
  • Longleaf pine ecosystem restoration
  • Pollinator and wildlife habitat

Livestock-Specific Practices Commonly Funded:

  • Cross-fencing for rotational grazing
  • Livestock water development (ponds, wells, pipelines)
  • Prescribed grazing systems
  • Heavy use area protection
  • Nutrient management (poultry litter application on pasture)
  • Riparian buffers and stream fencing
  • Waste management for confined operations

EQIP in Georgia: What to Ask About: Georgia NRCS identifies poultry litter nutrient management as a major EQIP focus, operations that apply poultry litter on pasture can ask about EQIP-funded nutrient management practices. Georgia is also a core state for the Longleaf Pine Initiative (LLPI), which has dedicated EQIP funding for longleaf pine establishment through prescribed burning and stand improvement. For livestock operations in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, NRCS offers EQIP assistance for grazing management, fencing, and water development. Ask your local office about available initiatives.

Georgia EQIP payment schedules: Available on the Georgia NRCS website.

→ Read the full EQIP guide

CSP in Georgia

CSP rewards producers for conservation practices already in place and pays for new enhancements. Well-managed operations with rotational grazing, maintained fencing, and conservation practices are strong candidates.

→ Read the full CSP guide

FSA Programs in Georgia

Current Disaster Designations: Check farmers.gov/protection-recovery for current drought and disaster designations in Georgia.

Key FSA Programs:

  • Direct and Guaranteed Farm Ownership and Operating Loans
  • Microloans (up to $50,000, simplified application)
  • Emergency Farm Loans (for designated disaster areas)
  • Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). Hurricane, drought, and severe storm losses
  • ELAP: covers drought-related grazing losses and emergency costs
  • Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), triggered by drought monitor conditions

Georgia FSA State Office: (706) 546-2266

Georgia-Specific Programs

Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission

Georgia has 40 Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The state commission provides technical assistance and coordinates conservation programs.

Website: gaswcc.georgia.gov

Georgia Forestry Commission

Cost-share programs for prescribed burning, reforestation, and longleaf pine establishment. Relevant for ranches with timber components.

Georgia Tax Provisions for Ag

  • Conservation Use Valuation (CUVA): Agricultural land enrolled in CUVA is assessed at 75% of the agricultural use value, significant property tax savings. 10-year covenant with penalties for early withdrawal.
  • State Income Tax: Georgia has a progressive income tax (top rate 5.49%). Farm income is subject to state tax.
  • Sales Tax Exemptions: Farm equipment, livestock, feed, and agricultural inputs are exempt from Georgia sales tax when used in commercial agriculture.

RCPP in Georgia

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funds conservation projects through partnerships between NRCS and local organizations. RCPP projects vary by state and year — check with your local NRCS office or visit the RCPP page for current projects in your area.

ACEP in Georgia

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) helps landowners protect farmland and wetlands through conservation easements. Two components: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) protect working farmland, and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) restore and protect wetlands. Contact your local NRCS office for current enrollment.

Resources

USDA Offices

State Resources

Key Deadlines (FY2026)

Dates are approximate and subject to change. Always confirm with your local NRCS/FSA office.

Program Typical Deadline Window Notes
EQIP Primary Batching Nov–Feb (varies by area) Check with local NRCS for exact date
CSP Ranking Varies Check state ranking dates page
CRP General Sign-up When announced by FSA Not always open every year
LFP (Livestock Forage) Triggered by D2+ Drought Monitor designation Monitor drought conditions
LIP (Livestock Indemnity) 30 days after loss to file notice Don't miss this window
ELAP 30 days after loss to file notice Don't miss this window

Your Next Steps in Georgia

  1. Run our eligibility screener to see your personalized program list: Take the eligibility screener
  2. Find your local USDA Service Center: farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator
  3. Read the federal program guides for programs you're interested in: EQIP · CSP · Beginning Farmer · Disaster Assistance
  4. Poultry litter management is a major EQIP focus, if you apply litter on pasture, nutrient management plans are a priority
  5. Conservation Use Valuation is critical for property tax savings, make sure your enrollment is current

Tools for Georgia Ranchers

Run the numbers before your next USDA visit. Each tool takes 2–3 minutes.

EQIP Cost Estimator → PRF Rainfall Analysis → Drought Dashboard → Deadline Calendar → Emergency Triage → Program Screener →

County Guides (159 counties)

Each county guide includes local USDA office information, relevant programs, and conservation priorities specific to that area.

Applingcotton, cattle, corn · 495 farms Atkinsoncotton, corn, cattle · 185 farms Baconcotton, cattle, corn · 312 farms Bakercorn, cotton, cattle · 106 farms Baldwincattle, sheep · 113 farms Bankscattle, milk, corn · 450 farms Barrowcattle, equine, equine · 256 farms Bartowcattle, cotton, corn · 457 farms Ben Hillcotton, corn, cattle · 167 farms Berriencotton, cattle, corn · 362 farms Bibbcattle, equine, goats · 95 farms Bleckleycotton, corn, soybeans · 151 farms Brantleyhogs, goats, goats · 207 farms Brooksmilk, cotton, soybeans · 392 farms Bryancattle, corn, goats · 89 farms Bullochcotton, corn, soybeans · 495 farms Burkemilk, cotton, corn · 403 farms Buttscattle, foliage plants, equine · 166 farms Calhouncorn, cotton · 144 farms Camdencattle, honey, corn · 69 farms Candlercotton, cattle, corn · 301 farms Carrollcattle, corn, equine · 806 farms Catoosacattle, soybeans · 213 farms Charltonhoney, cattle, equine · 85 farms Chathamequine, equine, cattle · 41 farms Chattahoochee4 farms Chattoogacorn, cattle, soybeans · 275 farms Cherokeecattle, equine, equine · 377 farms Clarkecattle, cut flowers & cut cultivated greens, honey · 72 farms Claycotton, corn, tomatoes · 73 farms Claytonhoney, goats · 23 farms Clinchhoney, corn, goats · 158 farms Cobbequine, equine, honey · 92 farms Coffeecotton, corn, cattle · 541 farms Colquittcotton, transplants, corn · 429 farms Columbiacattle, equine, equine · 227 farms Cookcotton, corn, cattle · 210 farms Cowetacattle, equine, cut flowers & cut cultivated greens · 324 farms Crawfordcattle, soybeans, goats · 180 farms Crispcotton, corn, sorghum · 176 farms Dadecattle, corn, equine · 180 farms Dawsoncattle, equine, honey · 170 farms DeKalb Decaturcotton, corn, wheat · 326 farms Dodgecotton, corn, goats · 395 farms Doolycotton, corn, wheat · 283 farms Doughertycotton, goats, goats · 100 farms Douglasmilk, cattle, equine · 74 farms Earlycotton, corn, soybeans · 288 farms Echolscattle, cotton, honey · 96 farms Effinghamcotton, sod, corn · 223 farms Elbertcattle, soybeans, equine · 424 farms Emanuelcotton, wheat, corn · 404 farms Evanscotton · 167 farms Fannincattle, transplants, goats · 195 farms Fayettecattle, equine, equine · 120 farms Floydcattle, corn, equine · 465 farms Forsythcattle, cut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees · 262 farms Franklincattle, cotton, soybeans · 669 farms Fultonequine, equine, cattle · 167 farms Gilmercattle, corn, soybeans · 264 farms Glascockcattle, wheat, soybeans · 64 farms Glynnequine, equine, cattle · 64 farms Gordoncattle, sod, soybeans · 592 farms Gradycotton, cattle, corn · 408 farms Greenecattle, equine, bison · 222 farms Gwinnettcattle, equine, goats · 117 farms Habershamcattle, corn, soybeans · 375 farms Hallcattle, mushrooms, corn · 574 farms Hancockcattle, milk, equine · 137 farms Haralsoncattle, milk, cut christmas trees · 303 farms Harriscattle, milk, equine · 227 farms Hartcorn, cattle, soybeans · 547 farms Heardcattle, flowering plants, potted, honey · 180 farms Henrycattle, cut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees · 214 farms Houstoncotton, cattle, soybeans · 302 farms Irwincotton, corn, wheat · 286 farms Jacksoncattle, equine, equine · 636 farms Jaspercattle, corn, equine · 293 farms Jeff Daviscotton, corn, cattle · 195 farms Jeffersoncotton, corn, soybeans · 309 farms Jenkinscotton, cattle, corn · 214 farms Johnsoncotton, corn, soybeans · 253 farms Jonesgoats, goats, equine · 195 farms Lamarsoybeans, cattle, wheat · 175 farms Laniercotton, corn, cattle · 133 farms Laurenscorn, cotton, cattle · 674 farms Leecorn, cotton, soybeans · 180 farms Libertycattle, goats, goats · 53 farms Lincolncattle, goats, sheep · 130 farms Longcorn, cotton, cattle · 94 farms Lowndescotton, sod, cattle · 389 farms Lumpkincattle, equine, honey · 260 farms Maconcotton, corn, cattle · 270 farms Madisoncattle, wheat, soybeans · 707 farms Marioncotton, cattle, corn · 199 farms McDuffiecattle, cotton, corn · 243 farms McIntoshcut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees, flowering plants, potted · 52 farms Meriwethercattle, corn, equine · 308 farms Millercotton, corn, soybeans · 179 farms Mitchellcotton, corn, soybeans · 367 farms Monroewheat, cattle, goats · 198 farms Montgomerycotton, cattle, hogs · 152 farms Morganmilk, cattle, equine · 537 farms Murraycattle, soybeans, corn · 276 farms Muscogee19 farms Newtoncattle, cut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees · 274 farms Oconeeflowering plants, potted, cattle, sheep · 292 farms Oglethorpecattle, soybeans, cut flowers & cut cultivated greens · 438 farms Pauldingsheep, goats, goats · 220 farms Peachcotton, equine, soybeans · 182 farms Pickenscattle, equine, equine · 220 farms Piercecotton, corn, tobacco · 345 farms Pikecattle, cut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees · 260 farms Polkcorn, cattle, cotton · 299 farms Pulaskicotton, corn, soybeans · 153 farms Putnammilk, cattle, wheat · 161 farms Quitmancattle · 26 farms Rabuncattle, honey, goats · 122 farms Randolphcorn, cotton, soybeans · 168 farms Richmondsoybeans, corn, wheat · 123 farms Rockdalecattle, equine, sheep · 71 farms Schleycattle, honey, goats · 101 farms Screvencotton, corn, cattle · 326 farms Seminolecotton, corn, cattle · 95 farms Spaldingcattle, goats, goats · 212 farms Stephenscattle, equine, equine · 163 farms Stewartcotton, corn, cattle · 74 farms Sumtercotton, corn, cattle · 373 farms Talbotcattle, honey · 106 farms Taliaferro60 farms Tattnallcotton, cattle, corn · 514 farms Taylorcotton, soybeans, corn · 211 farms Telfaircotton, cattle, wheat · 181 farms Terrellcotton, corn, soybeans · 272 farms Thomascotton, milk, corn · 366 farms Tiftcotton, corn, cattle · 279 farms Toombscotton, corn, cattle · 296 farms Townscattle · 103 farms Treutlencotton, corn, wheat · 152 farms Troupcattle, sheep, goats · 251 farms Turnercotton, corn, sorghum · 182 farms Twiggscotton, corn, cattle · 87 farms Uniontransplants, cattle, equine · 248 farms Upsoncattle, equine, goats · 216 farms Walkercattle, corn, milk · 557 farms Waltoncattle · 406 farms Warecorn, soybeans, honey · 251 farms Warrencotton, cattle, goats · 105 farms Washingtoncorn, cotton, cattle · 363 farms Waynecotton, corn, cattle · 272 farms Webstercotton, corn, wheat · 93 farms Wheelerwheat, goats, goats · 127 farms Whitecattle, honey, equine · 304 farms Whitfieldcattle, corn, cut christmas trees · 285 farms Wilcoxcotton, milk, cattle · 211 farms Wilkescattle, goats, goats · 248 farms Wilkinsoncattle, goats, goats · 138 farms Worthcotton, corn, cattle · 372 farms

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By Doug McCarty · Spencer Shadow Ranch, Oregon · Last updated 2026-04