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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
Mississippi River Delta marshlands extending southeast from New Orleans toward the Gulf of Mexico. Natural levees along distributaries provide limited higher ground surrounded by coastal wetlands.
Agriculture severely limited by Hurricane Katrina damage and ongoing coastal land loss. Small-scale operations focus on vegetables, citrus, and aquaculture on available protected land.
Quick Facts
| Region | Southeast Louisiana |
| Top Commodities | Vegetables, Aquaculture, Citrus |
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 St. Bernard Parish.
NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)
1041 Rue La Cannes Dr, Luling, LA 70070
FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)
151 E 3rd St, Edgard, LA 70049
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.
Farm Structure in St. Bernard Parish
About 13% of St. Bernard Parish producers are 65 or older. Roughly 36% of farms are small and 25% are large, so ranking pools and program fit vary a good deal across the county. The average farm runs 785 acres.
What Tends to Fit in St. Bernard Parish
Given the operation mix in St. Bernard Parish, the practices that most often come up are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing for grazing operations; pollinator habitat plantings for apiaries; 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 St. Bernard Parish Operations
Based on St. Bernard Parish's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Recovery programs focus on rebuilding agricultural infrastructure after hurricane damage. Coastal protection measures essential for maintaining any viable farming operations.
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
Your Next Steps in St. Bernard Parish
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Louisiana guide: Louisiana Farm Programs Guide
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