Spalding County, Georgia: USDA programs and conservation funding

212
Farms & Ranches
17K
Acres in Agriculture
78
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$605K
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Goats, Goats, Honey
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Spalding County, Georgia has 212 farms working 16,543 agricultural acres (average 78 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $0.6 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Goats. Vegetation typically peaks in May, 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 Spalding County

Spalding County sits within the Southern Piedmont (MLRA 136) region. Elevation averages about 923 feet.

Temperatures in Spalding County range from a January mean low of 34°F to a July mean high near 90°F. Annual precipitation averages 50.8 inches.

Spalding County ran 212 farms, 16,543 acres of farmland, and 821 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, goats, and goats.


Quick Facts

RegionCentral Georgia
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Fruit & tree nuts, Vegetables, Goats, Honey, Berries

Current Conditions

Drought status: Severe Drought (D2). LFP-eligible for 9+ 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 Spalding County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

2025 Pennsylvania Avenue, Box F10, Mcdonough, GA 30253

(770) 957-5705

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

231 Highway 41 N, Barnesville, GA 30204

(770) 358-0787

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.


Programs for Spalding County Operations

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

EQIP supports poultry waste management systems and pasture improvements for suburban-edge farming. Beginning farmer programs help new operators establish operations near the Atlanta metro area.

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 Butts County, Georgia, Clayton County, Georgia, Coweta County, Georgia, Fayette County, Georgia, Henry County, Georgia, and Lamar County, Georgia. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in Spalding 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 Prescribed GrazingCSP

Vegetation Baseline

0.60
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.66
Peak season (May)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Spalding 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.