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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Lincoln County
Lincoln County sits within the Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes (MLRA 115) region. Elevation averages about 667 feet.
Temperatures in Lincoln County range from a January mean low of 21°F to a July mean high near 88°F. Annual precipitation averages 41.1 inches. Expect about 275 frost-free days.
Lincoln County ran 1,040 farms, 218,355 acres of farmland, and 5,126 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: soybeans, corn, and wheat.
Quick Facts
| Region | East Central Missouri |
| Top Commodities | Soybeans, Corn, Wheat, Floriculture, Hogs, Horses |
Current Conditions
Drought status: None (None).
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 Lincoln County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
112 Frenchman Bluff Rd, Troy, MO 63379
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 Lincoln County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 7% of farmland in Lincoln County, about 15,904 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around April and forage peaks in May. 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 Lincoln County
Farms in Lincoln County average 210 acres, and about 25% are small operations. Roughly 25% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 1,565 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Lincoln County
Given the operation mix in Lincoln County, the practices that most often come up are cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election for row-crop ground. 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 Lincoln County Operations
Based on Lincoln County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Erosion control practices on sloping ground and riparian buffers along waterways are conservation priorities. Urban proximity programs support beginning farmers and sustainable production methods for local markets.
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 Calhoun County, Illinois, Montgomery County, Missouri, Pike County, Missouri, St. Charles County, Missouri, and Warren County, Missouri. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Lincoln County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Missouri guide: Missouri Farm Programs Guide
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