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
| Region | West-Central Nevada |
| Top Commodities | Dairy, Cattle & calves, Vegetables, Horses, Fruit & tree nuts, Goats |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Severe Drought (D2). LFP-eligible for 20+ weeks — check FSA for livestock forage assistance.
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 Churchill County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
111 Sheckler Rd, Fallon, NV 89406
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 Churchill County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 72% of farmland in Churchill County, about 122,638 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 Churchill County
Farms in Churchill County average 315 acres, and about 56% are small operations. Roughly 27% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 36,881 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Churchill County
Churchill County's top commodities in the 2022 Census were milk, cattle, and grain. That mix shapes which conservation practices tend to be worth asking about — for grazing operations, prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing; for dairies, waste storage, nutrient management, and Dairy Margin Coverage; and for row-crop ground, cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election. Your local NRCS office sets the ranking pools each year and can tell you which ones your operation falls into.
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
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Nevada guide: Nevada Farm Programs Guide
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