Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Montgomery County
Montgomery County sits within the Cherokee Prairies (MLRA 112) region. Elevation averages about 824 feet.
Temperatures in Montgomery County range from a January mean low of 24°F to a July mean high near 91°F. Annual precipitation averages 42.4 inches. Expect about 275 frost-free days.
Montgomery County ran 892 farms, 300,352 acres of farmland, and 30,699 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: wheat, soybeans, and corn.
Quick Facts
| Region | Southeast Kansas |
| Top Commodities | Wheat, Soybeans, Corn, Horses, Fruit & tree nuts, Poultry |
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 Montgomery County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
410 Peter Pan Rd Ste A, Independence, KS 67301
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 Montgomery County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 36% of farmland in Montgomery County, about 109,314 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around April and forage peaks in August. 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 Montgomery County
Farms in Montgomery County average 337 acres, and about 17% are small operations. Roughly 21% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up.
What Tends to Fit in Montgomery County
With equine and corn in the mix in Montgomery County, the practices worth raising with NRCS are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing (grazing operations), and cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election (row-crop ground). 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 Montgomery County Operations
Based on Montgomery County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Mine land restoration programs convert former extraction sites into productive grasslands and wildlife habitat. Stream restoration projects improve water quality in the Verdigris River watershed while creating riparian corridors for livestock and wildlife.
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 Chautauqua County, Kansas, Elk County, Kansas, Labette County, Kansas, Neosho County, Kansas, Wilson County, Kansas, and Nowata County, Oklahoma. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Montgomery 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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