Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Crawford County
Crawford County sits within the Cherokee Prairies (MLRA 112) region. Elevation averages about 969 feet.
Temperatures in Crawford County range from a January mean low of 24°F to a July mean high near 90°F. Annual precipitation averages 44.9 inches. Expect about 275 frost-free days.
Crawford County ran 763 farms, 352,793 acres of farmland, and 31,652 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, soybeans, and wheat.
Quick Facts
| Region | Southeast Kansas |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Soybeans, Wheat, Corn, Fruit & tree nuts, 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 Crawford County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
207 S Summit St, Girard, KS 66743
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 Crawford County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 32% of farmland in Crawford County, about 113,117 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 Crawford County
Farms in Crawford County average 462 acres, and about 17% are small operations. Roughly 23% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 1,486 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Crawford County
Given the operation mix in Crawford County, the practices that most often come up are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing for grazing operations; cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election for row-crop ground; and brush management for rangeland. Whether any of them scores well depends on your county's Local Working Group priorities, which NRCS can walk you through before you apply.
Programs for Crawford County Operations
Based on Crawford County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Land reclamation programs support conversion of former mining areas to productive grassland and wildlife habitat. Silvopasture and agroforestry practices promoted through EQIP for integrating timber management with livestock grazing.
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 Bourbon County, Kansas, Cherokee County, Kansas, Labette County, Kansas, Neosho County, Kansas, Barton County, Missouri, and Jasper County, Missouri. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Crawford County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Kansas guide: Kansas Farm Programs Guide
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