Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Clinton County
Clinton County sits within the Indiana and Ohio Till Plain (MLRA 111) region. Elevation averages about 857 feet.
Temperatures in Clinton County range from a January mean low of 18°F to a July mean high near 84°F. Annual precipitation averages 42.4 inches. Expect about 275 frost-free days.
Clinton County ran 526 farms, 205,912 acres of farmland, and 933 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: corn, soybeans, and hogs.
Quick Facts
| Region | Central Indiana |
| Top Commodities | Corn, Soybeans, Hogs, Wheat, Floriculture, Horses |
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 Clinton County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
860 S Prairie Ave, Frankfort, IN 46041
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 Clinton County
Clinton County holds about 822 acres of pasture and rangeland. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around June 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 Clinton County
Farms in Clinton County average 391 acres, and about 26% are small operations. Roughly 17% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 226 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Clinton County
With corn and soybeans in the mix in Clinton County, the practices worth raising with NRCS are 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 Clinton County Operations
Based on Clinton County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
CSP promotes cover crops and nutrient management on high-input grain operations. EQIP supports precision agriculture adoption and water quality protection on intensively farmed lands.
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 Boone County, Indiana, Carroll County, Indiana, Hamilton County, Indiana, Howard County, Indiana, Montgomery County, Indiana, and Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Clinton County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Indiana guide: Indiana Farm Programs Guide
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