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Union County, Illinois

Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

Union County features diverse topography from Mississippi River bottomlands to the rugged hills of the Shawnee National Forest, including the famous Bald Knob Cross. The county contains both fertile alluvial soils and steep, forested terrain unsuitable for row crops.

Agriculture varies dramatically across the county's diverse landscape, with intensive row crop production in the river bottoms and livestock operations in the hill country. The county also supports some specialty crop production including orchards and vineyards taking advantage of unique microclimates.

Quick Facts
RegionSouthern Illinois
Top CommoditiesSoybeans, Corn, Fruit & tree nuts, Cattle & calves, Vegetables, Berries
Farms & Ranches~340 (approx.)
Agricultural Land~140,000 acres
Average Farm Size~234 acres

Find Your Local USDA Offices

Your nearest USDA Service Center houses both NRCS and FSA under one roof.

Find your Service Center:

→ USDA Service Center Locator

Search for "Union County" to find your local NRCS and FSA offices.

What to do when you call: Ask for a conservation planner (EQIP/CSP) or loan officer (FSA). Mention your operation type and planned improvements.

Programs for Union County Operations

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

CRP enrollment focuses on steep slopes and highly erodible hill country to prevent erosion. EQIP supports both bottomland drainage improvements and hill country pasture management systems.

Not sure which programs fit? Run our free eligibility screener — 2 minutes, personalized action packet.

Local Conservation Priorities

EQIP applications addressing local priorities score higher in ranking.

We don't have Union County's specific LWG priorities yet.

Ask your local NRCS office: "What are the priority resource concerns in Union County?"

Your Next Steps in Union County

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

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