St. Landry County, Louisiana: USDA programs and conservation funding

1,087
Farms & Ranches
268K
Acres in Agriculture
246
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$8.8M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Grain, Field Crops, Other, Soybeans, Rice, Cattle
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

St. Landry County, Louisiana has 1,087 farms working 267,660 agricultural acres (average 246 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $8.8 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Grain, Field Crops, Other, Soybeans. Vegetation typically peaks in Jul, defining the primary growing season.

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Farm Programs & Local Resources

Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error

About St. Landry Parish

St. Landry Parish sits within the Southern Mississippi River Alluvium (MLRA 131A) region. Elevation averages about 27 feet.

Temperatures in St. Landry Parish range from a January mean low of 41°F to a July mean high near 92°F. Annual precipitation averages 61.2 inches.

St. Landry Parish ran 1,087 farms, 267,660 acres of farmland, and 21,218 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: soybeans, rice, and cattle.


Quick Facts

RegionSouth Central Louisiana
Top CommoditiesRice, Sweet potatoes, Crawfish, Cattle & calves, Soybeans

Current Conditions

Drought status: Severe Drought (D2). LFP-eligible for 12+ weeks — check FSA for livestock forage assistance.

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor · Updated 2026-04-14

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. Landry Parish.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

5832 I 49 N Service Rd, Opelousas, LA 70570

(337) 948-8288

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.


Programs for St. Landry Parish Operations

Based on St. Landry Parish's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:

Water management programs support rice-crawfish rotation systems and sweet potato irrigation needs. Conservation initiatives help maintain prairie habitat while supporting Louisiana's most diverse agricultural economy.

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 Acadia Parish, Louisiana, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, and St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in St. Landry Parish

  1. Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
  2. Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
  3. Read the Louisiana guide: Louisiana Farm Programs Guide

Part of Farmer's Navigator. Built by ranchers. Every guide on this site is free.

Related program guides

EQIP FencingEQIP Prescribed GrazingEQIP Water Development

Vegetation Baseline

0.41
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.71
Peak season (Jul)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for St. Landry County

Check drought statusCurrent USDM conditions and historical drought data.PRF rainfall analysis78 years of grid-level rainfall data for hay and grazing insurance.Estimate EQIP costsSee what NRCS may cover and your estimated out-of-pocket share.Disaster triageLost livestock or pasture? Find your disaster programs and deadlines.See all deadlinesEvery USDA program deadline in one place.