Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Bourbon County
Bourbon County sits within the Cherokee Prairies (MLRA 112) region. Elevation averages about 905 feet.
Temperatures in Bourbon County range from a January mean low of 23°F to a July mean high near 90°F. Annual precipitation averages 43.2 inches. Expect about 275 frost-free days.
Bourbon County ran 666 farms, 311,422 acres of farmland, and 22,173 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, soybeans, and corn.
Quick Facts
| Region | Southeast Kansas |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Soybeans, Corn, Wheat, Dairy, Grain sorghum |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Severe Drought (D2).
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 Bourbon County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
1515 S Judson St, Fort Scott, KS 66701
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 Bourbon County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 46% of farmland in Bourbon County, about 143,714 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around April and forage peaks in June. 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 Bourbon County
Farms in Bourbon County average 468 acres, and about 12% are small operations. Roughly 22% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 322 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Bourbon County
With cattle and corn in the mix in Bourbon County, the practices worth raising with NRCS are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing (grazing operations); cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election (row-crop ground); and brush management (rangeland). 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 Bourbon County Operations
Based on Bourbon County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Streambank stabilization and riparian forest buffer programs address water quality in the Marmaton River watershed. Rotational grazing systems and prescribed burning supported to maintain native prairie ecosystems.
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 Allen County, Kansas, Anderson County, Kansas, Crawford County, Kansas, Linn County, Kansas, Neosho County, Kansas, and Vernon County, Missouri. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Bourbon County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Kansas guide: Kansas Farm Programs Guide
Part of Farmer's Navigator. Built by ranchers. Every guide on this site is free.