Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Terrell County
Terrell County sits within the Southern Coastal Plain (MLRA 133A) region. Elevation averages about 354 feet.
Temperatures in Terrell County range from a January mean low of 37°F to a July mean high near 92°F. Annual precipitation averages 51.8 inches.
Terrell County ran 272 farms, 168,890 acres of farmland, and 347 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cotton, corn, and soybeans.
Quick Facts
| Region | Southwest Georgia |
| Top Commodities | Cotton, Corn, Fruit & tree nuts, Soybeans, Vegetables, Wheat |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Abnormally Dry (D0) — monitor conditions.
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 Terrell County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
955 Forrester Dr, Dawson, GA 39842
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 Terrell County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 2% of farmland in Terrell County, about 2,810 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around April and forage peaks in August. 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 Terrell County
Farms in Terrell County average 621 acres, and about 8% are small operations. Roughly 32% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 40,067 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Terrell County
Given the operation mix in Terrell County, the practices that most often come up are cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election for row-crop ground. 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 Terrell County Operations
Based on Terrell County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
EQIP supports state-of-the-art irrigation technology and integrated pest management systems. Disaster assistance programs provide essential risk management for high-investment irrigated operations.
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 Calhoun County, Georgia, Dougherty County, Georgia, Lee County, Georgia, Randolph County, Georgia, Sumter County, Georgia, and Webster County, Georgia. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Terrell 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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