Churchill County, Nevada: USDA programs and conservation funding

540
Farms & Ranches
170K
Acres in Agriculture
315
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$25.5M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Milk, Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Grain, Equine
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Churchill County, Nevada has 540 farms working 170,124 agricultural acres (average 315 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $25.5 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Milk, Cattle, Field Crops, Other. Vegetation typically peaks in May, 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 Churchill County

Churchill County sits within the Fallon-Lovelock Area (MLRA 27) region. Elevation averages about 6,884 feet.

Temperatures in Churchill County range from a January mean low of 22°F to a July mean high near 93°F. Annual precipitation averages 6.4 inches. Expect about 245 frost-free days.

Churchill County ran 540 farms, 170,124 acres of farmland, and 24,105 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: milk, cattle, and equine.


Quick Facts

RegionWest-Central Nevada
Top CommoditiesDairy, Cattle & calves, Vegetables, Horses, Fruit & tree nuts, Goats

Current Conditions

Drought status: Moderate Drought (D1) — watch for worsening; LFP not currently triggered.

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 Churchill County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

111 Sheckler Rd, Fallon, NV 89406

(775) 423-5124

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 Churchill County Operations

Based on Churchill County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:

Water conservation practices are prioritized through EQIP to improve irrigation efficiency in the desert environment. Livestock forage programs help ranchers manage grazing on extensive public and private rangelands.

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 Lander County, Nevada, Lyon County, Nevada, Mineral County, Nevada, Nye County, Nevada, Pershing County, Nevada, and Washoe County, Nevada. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in Churchill County

  1. Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
  2. Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
  3. Read the Nevada guide: Nevada Farm Programs Guide

Part of Farmer's Navigator. Built by ranchers. Every guide on this site is free.

Related program guides

EQIP Prescribed GrazingCSPEQIP Water Development

Vegetation Baseline

0.31
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.31
Peak season (May)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Churchill 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.