Hillsborough County, New Hampshire: USDA programs and conservation funding

570
Farms & Ranches
39K
Acres in Agriculture
69
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$503K
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Field Crops, Other, Equine, Equine, Maple Syrup, Hogs
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Hillsborough County, New Hampshire has 570 farms working 39,253 agricultural acres (average 69 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $0.5 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Field Crops, Other, Equine, Equine. Vegetation typically peaks in Jul, 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 Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County sits within the New England and Eastern New York Upland, Northern Part (MLRA 144B) region. Elevation averages about 710 feet.

Temperatures in Hillsborough County range from a January mean low of 14°F to a July mean high near 82°F. Annual precipitation averages 47.7 inches. Expect about 244 frost-free days.

Hillsborough County ran 570 farms, 39,253 acres of farmland, and 694 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: equine, equine, and maple syrup.


Quick Facts

RegionSouth Central
Top CommoditiesVegetables, Fruit & tree nuts, Floriculture, Horses, Berries, Maple syrup

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 Hillsborough County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

468 Route 13 S, Milford, NH 03055

(603) 673-2409

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

10 Ferry St, Concord, NH 03301

(603) 223-6000

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 Hillsborough County Operations

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

Programs focus on farmland preservation and helping farmers compete with development pressure in this urbanizing region. Conservation practices emphasize sustainable intensification and water quality protection in suburban-agricultural interfaces.

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 Essex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, and Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in Hillsborough County

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

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

Related program guides

EQIP Water Development

Vegetation Baseline

0.66
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.90
Peak season (Jul)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Hillsborough 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.