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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Perry County
Perry County sits within the Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes (MLRA 115) region. Elevation averages about 531 feet.
Temperatures in Perry County range from a January mean low of 24°F to a July mean high near 88°F. Annual precipitation averages 46.0 inches. Expect about 275 frost-free days.
Perry County ran 736 farms, 193,440 acres of farmland, and 9,540 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, soybeans, and corn.
Quick Facts
| Region | Southeast Missouri |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Soybeans, Corn, Wheat, Dairy, Hogs |
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 Perry County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
1003 N Main St, Perryville, MO 63775
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 Perry County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 14% of farmland in Perry County, about 27,621 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around June and forage peaks in July. 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 Perry County
Farms in Perry County average 263 acres, and about 13% are small operations. Roughly 27% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 6 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Perry County
With cattle and corn in the mix in Perry County, the practices worth raising with NRCS are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing (grazing operations); cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election (row-crop ground); and brush management (rangeland). Ask which ranking pool your operation fits and what scored well locally last cycle — that conversation is usually more useful than guessing from the practice list.
Programs for Perry County Operations
Based on Perry County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Flood management and soil conservation are priorities in the Mississippi River bottomlands. Grazing management systems help optimize cattle production on the rolling upland 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
Bordering Counties
If your operation extends into or you compare conditions against adjacent counties, see Jackson County, Illinois, Randolph County, Illinois, Union County, Illinois, Bollinger County, Missouri, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, and Madison County, Missouri. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Perry 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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