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

845
Farms & Ranches
61K
Acres in Agriculture
73
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$2.4M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Equine, Equine, Corn, Grain
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

St. Tammany County, Louisiana has 845 farms working 61,455 agricultural acres (average 73 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $2.4 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Equine, Equine. Vegetation typically peaks in Apr, 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. Tammany Parish

St. Tammany Parish lies in the Eastern Gulf Coast Flatwoods (MLRA 152A) region. Elevation averages about 36 feet.

St. Tammany Parish averages 64.4 inches of precipitation annually (1991–2020 NOAA normals). Annual mean temperature is 67.7°F.

St. Tammany Parish's agricultural base centers on cattle, equine, and equine. The 2022 Ag Census recorded 845 farms working 61,455 acres. Cattle inventory stands at 486 head.


Quick Facts

RegionSoutheast Louisiana
Top CommoditiesNursery crops, Hay, Cattle & calves, Vegetables

Current Conditions

Drought status: Severe Drought (D2).

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. Tammany Parish.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

1111 Washington St, Franklinton, LA 70438

(985) 839-5687

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. Tammany Parish Operations

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

Beginning Farmer programs support new agricultural entrepreneurs entering specialty crop and agritourism markets. EQIP assists with pasture management and erosion control on the parish's sloping terrain.

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

Counties Bordering St. Tammany Parish

St. Tammany Parish shares borders with Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, Washington Parish, Louisiana, Hancock County, Mississippi, and Pearl River County, Mississippi. Conservation priorities, EQIP ranking pools, and drought conditions often overlap across county lines — it's worth checking neighboring county pages if your operation spans multiple jurisdictions.

Your Next Steps in St. Tammany 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 GrazingCSPCRP

Vegetation Baseline

0.77
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.82
Peak season (Apr)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for St. Tammany 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.