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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Cumberland County
Cumberland County sits within the Central Claypan Areas (MLRA 113) region. Elevation averages about 600 feet.
Temperatures in Cumberland County range from a January mean low of 21°F to a July mean high near 86°F. Annual precipitation averages 43.3 inches. Expect about 275 frost-free days.
Cumberland County ran 686 farms, 161,892 acres of farmland, and 3,534 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: corn, soybeans, and hogs.
Quick Facts
| Region | East Central Illinois |
| Top Commodities | Corn, Soybeans, Hogs, Dairy, Wheat, Fruit & tree nuts |
Current Conditions
Drought status: None (None).
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 Cumberland County.
NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)
1001 N York St, Martinsville, IL 62442
FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)
201 E Main St, Toledo, IL 62468
This county also has 3 additional NRCS offices. 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 Cumberland County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 2% of farmland in Cumberland County, about 3,305 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around April and forage peaks in July. 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 Cumberland County
Farms in Cumberland County average 236 acres, and about 26% are small operations. Roughly 27% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 390 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Cumberland County
With milk and corn in the mix in Cumberland County, the practices worth raising with NRCS are waste storage, nutrient management, and Dairy Margin Coverage (dairies); cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election (row-crop ground); and waste management and nutrient planning (confined livestock operations). Ask which ranking pool your operation fits and what scored well locally last cycle — that conversation is usually more useful than guessing from the practice list.
Programs for Cumberland County Operations
Based on Cumberland County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Precision agriculture and variable rate technology maximize production efficiency on uniform prairie soils. Drainage management and tile systems optimize field conditions for mechanized 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 Clark County, Illinois, Coles County, Illinois, Effingham County, Illinois, Jasper County, Illinois, and Shelby County, Illinois. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Cumberland County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Illinois guide: Illinois Farm Programs Guide
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