Lowndes County, Georgia: USDA programs and conservation funding

389
Farms & Ranches
84K
Acres in Agriculture
217
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$625K
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Field Crops, Other, Cotton, Sod, Cattle, Soybeans
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Lowndes County, Georgia has 389 farms working 84,299 agricultural acres (average 217 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $0.6 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Field Crops, Other, Cotton, Sod. Vegetation typically peaks in Jul, defining the primary growing season.

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Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

About Lowndes County

Lowndes County sits within the Southern Coastal Plain (MLRA 133A) region. Elevation averages about 211 feet.

Temperatures in Lowndes County range from a January mean low of 40°F to a July mean high near 92°F. Annual precipitation averages 51.0 inches.

Lowndes County ran 389 farms, 84,299 acres of farmland, and 1,815 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cotton, sod, and cattle.


Quick Facts

RegionSouth Georgia
Top CommoditiesVegetables, Cotton, Fruit & tree nuts, Cattle & calves, Soybeans, Corn

Current Conditions

Drought status: Exceptional Drought (D4). LFP-eligible for 28+ weeks — check FSA for livestock forage assistance.

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 Lowndes County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

516a County Farm Rd Ste 2, Nashville, GA 31639

(229) 686-5557

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

2108 E Hill Ave, Valdosta, GA 31601

(229) 242-0841

This county also has 1 additional NRCS 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.


Programs for Lowndes County Operations

Based on Lowndes County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:

EQIP programs promote precision agriculture and integrated pest management in row crop systems. Conservation efforts focus on soil health improvement and water quality protection in river watersheds.

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 Hamilton County, Florida, Madison County, Florida, Berrien County, Georgia, Brooks County, Georgia, Cook County, Georgia, and Echols County, Georgia. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in Lowndes County

  1. Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
  2. Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
  3. Read the Georgia guide: Georgia Farm Programs Guide

Part of Farmer's Navigator. Built by ranchers. Every guide on this site is free.

Related program guides

EQIP FencingEQIP Water DevelopmentCSPCRP

Vegetation Baseline

0.52
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.58
Peak season (Jul)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Lowndes County

Check drought statusCurrent USDM conditions and historical drought data.PRF rainfall analysis78 years of grid-level rainfall data for hay and grazing insurance.Estimate EQIP costsSee what NRCS may cover and your estimated out-of-pocket share.Disaster triageLost livestock or pasture? Find your disaster programs and deadlines.See all deadlinesEvery USDA program deadline in one place.