Sullivan County, New Hampshire: USDA programs and conservation funding

271
Farms & Ranches
39K
Acres in Agriculture
143
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$1.5M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Milk, Field Crops, Other, Maple Syrup, Cattle, Hogs
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Sullivan County, New Hampshire has 271 farms working 38,696 agricultural acres (average 143 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $1.5 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Milk, Field Crops, Other, Maple Syrup. Vegetation typically peaks in Jun, 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 Sullivan County

Sullivan County sits within the New England and Eastern New York Upland, Northern Part (MLRA 144B) region. Elevation averages about 712 feet.

Temperatures in Sullivan County range from a January mean low of 10°F to a July mean high near 79°F. Annual precipitation averages 45.9 inches. Expect about 214 frost-free days.

Sullivan County ran 271 farms, 38,696 acres of farmland, and 2,958 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: milk, maple syrup, and cattle.


Quick Facts

RegionUpper Valley
Top CommoditiesDairy, Maple syrup, Vegetables, Cattle & calves, Floriculture, Fruit & tree nuts

Current Conditions

Drought status: Severe Drought (D2). LFP-eligible for 32+ weeks — check FSA for livestock forage assistance.

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 Sullivan County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

11 Industrial Park Dr, Walpole, NH 03608

(603) 756-2988

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 Sullivan County Operations

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

Programs support integrated agriculture-forestry operations common in this rural county with extensive forest cover. Conservation practices emphasize sustainable grazing management and protection of Connecticut River watershed water quality.

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 Cheshire County, New Hampshire, Grafton County, New Hampshire, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Windham County, Vermont, and Windsor County, Vermont. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in Sullivan 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 FencingEQIP Prescribed GrazingCSPEQIP Water Development

Vegetation Baseline

0.43
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.75
Peak season (Jun)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Sullivan 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.