Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Kosciusko County
Kosciusko County sits within the Indiana and Ohio Till Plain (MLRA 111) region. Elevation averages about 826 feet.
Temperatures in Kosciusko County range from a January mean low of 17°F to a July mean high near 83°F. Annual precipitation averages 39.0 inches. Expect about 275 frost-free days.
Kosciusko County ran 1,079 farms, 298,904 acres of farmland, and 7,649 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: corn, soybeans, and hogs.
Quick Facts
| Region | Northern Indiana |
| Top Commodities | Corn, Soybeans, Poultry, Hogs, Dairy, Cattle & calves |
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 Kosciusko County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
217 E Bell Dr, Warsaw, IN 46582
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 Kosciusko County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 2% of farmland in Kosciusko County, about 5,704 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around May 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 Kosciusko County
Farms in Kosciusko County average 277 acres, and about 40% are small operations. Roughly 18% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 42,910 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Kosciusko County
With milk and corn in the mix in Kosciusko 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 Kosciusko County Operations
Based on Kosciusko County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
EQIP emphasizes livestock facilities and nutrient management near sensitive lake watersheds. CRP targets riparian areas and erosion-prone slopes around lake systems.
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 Elkhart County, Indiana, Fulton County, Indiana, Marshall County, Indiana, Noble County, Indiana, Wabash County, Indiana, and Whitley County, Indiana. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Kosciusko 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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