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St. Mary Parish, Louisiana

Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

St. Mary Parish features expansive coastal marshlands and is intersected by the Atchafalaya River as it approaches the Gulf of Mexico. The parish contains significant portions of the Atchafalaya Basin and numerous oil and gas canal systems throughout its wetlands.

Agriculture here focuses heavily on sugarcane production on the higher ground along natural levees and ridges. Rice cultivation and crawfish aquaculture dominate the lower-lying areas with seasonal flooding management.

Quick Facts
RegionSouth Central Louisiana
Top CommoditiesSugarcane, Rice, Crawfish, Soybeans
Farms & Ranches~280 (approx.)
Agricultural Land~95,000 acres (approx.)
Average Farm Size~340 acres (approx.)

Find Your Local USDA Offices

Your nearest USDA Service Center houses both NRCS and FSA under one roof.

Find your Service Center:

→ USDA Service Center Locator

Search for "St. Mary Parish" to find your local NRCS and FSA offices.

What to do when you call: Ask for a conservation planner (EQIP/CSP) or loan officer (FSA). Mention your operation type and planned improvements.

Programs for St. Mary Parish Operations

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

EQIP supports drainage improvements and levee maintenance critical for sugarcane operations in this flood-prone coastal area. Disaster assistance is frequently utilized due to hurricane impacts and saltwater intrusion affecting crops.

Not sure which programs fit? Run our free eligibility screener — 2 minutes, personalized action packet.

Local Conservation Priorities

EQIP applications addressing local priorities score higher in ranking.

We don't have St. Mary Parish's specific LWG priorities yet.

Ask your local NRCS office: "What are the priority resource concerns in St. Mary Parish?"

Your Next Steps in St. Mary 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

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