Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Butts County
Butts County sits within the Southern Piedmont (MLRA 136) region. Elevation averages about 707 feet.
Temperatures in Butts County range from a January mean low of 33°F to a July mean high near 91°F. Annual precipitation averages 48.7 inches.
Butts County ran 166 farms, 22,844 acres of farmland, and 1,741 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, foliage plants, and equine.
Quick Facts
| Region | Central Georgia |
| Top Commodities | Floriculture, Cattle & calves, Fruit & tree nuts, Horses, Goats, Berries |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Moderate Drought (D1) — watch for worsening; LFP not currently triggered.
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 Butts County.
NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)
2025 Pennsylvania Avenue, Box F10, Mcdonough, GA 30253
FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)
231 Highway 41 N, Barnesville, GA 30204
This county also has 1 additional FSA office. 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 Butts County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 35% of farmland in Butts County, about 7,928 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around April and forage peaks in May. 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 Butts County
Farms in Butts County average 138 acres, and about 27% are small operations. Roughly 29% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 29 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Butts County
Given the operation mix in Butts 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 Butts County Operations
Based on Butts County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Pasture improvement programs support fencing, watering systems, and forage establishment for enhanced cattle production. Lake Jackson watershed protection initiatives promote best management practices for nutrient management and erosion control.
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 Henry County, Georgia, Jasper County, Georgia, Lamar County, Georgia, Monroe County, Georgia, Newton County, Georgia, and Spalding County, Georgia. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Butts County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Georgia guide: Georgia Farm Programs Guide
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