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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Nemaha County
Nemaha County sits within the Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills (MLRA 106) region. Elevation averages about 1,015 feet.
Temperatures in Nemaha County range from a January mean low of 15°F to a July mean high near 87°F. Annual precipitation averages 33.5 inches. Expect about 275 frost-free days.
Nemaha County ran 397 farms, 242,887 acres of farmland, and 2,654 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: corn, soybeans, and cattle.
Quick Facts
| Region | Southeast Nebraska |
| Top Commodities | Corn, Soybeans, Cattle & calves, Wheat, Grain sorghum, Sheep |
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 Nemaha County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
918 26th St, Auburn, NE 68305
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 Nemaha County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 4% of farmland in Nemaha County, about 10,343 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around May 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 Nemaha County
Farms in Nemaha County average 612 acres, and about 15% are small operations. Roughly 34% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 27,282 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Nemaha County
Given the operation mix in Nemaha County, the practices that most often come up are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing for grazing operations; cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election for row-crop ground; and brush management for rangeland. 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 Nemaha County Operations
Based on Nemaha County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
CREP focuses on establishing riparian buffers along streams to protect water quality and provide wildlife habitat. EQIP promotes nutrient management and cover crop adoption in this intensive crop production area.
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 Atchison County, Missouri, Holt County, Missouri, Johnson County, Nebraska, Otoe County, Nebraska, Pawnee County, Nebraska, and Richardson County, Nebraska. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Nemaha County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Nebraska guide: Nebraska Farm Programs Guide
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