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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Monmouth County
Monmouth County sits within the Northern Coastal Plain (MLRA 149A) region. Elevation averages about 89 feet.
Temperatures in Monmouth County range from a January mean low of 24°F to a July mean high near 86°F. Annual precipitation averages 47.6 inches. Expect about 306 frost-free days.
Monmouth County ran 931 farms, 44,226 acres of farmland, and 15 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: equine, flowering plants, potted, and soybeans.
Quick Facts
| Region | Central New Jersey Coastal |
| Top Commodities | Floriculture, Horses, Vegetables, Fruit & tree nuts, Soybeans, Poultry |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Moderate Drought (D1) — watch for worsening; LFP not currently triggered.
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 Monmouth County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
4000 Kozloski Rd Ste D, Freehold, NJ 07728
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 Monmouth County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 15% of farmland in Monmouth County, about 6,684 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around April and forage peaks in August. 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 Monmouth County
Farms in Monmouth County average 48 acres, and about 76% are small operations. Roughly 23% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 4,837 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Monmouth County
Given the operation mix in Monmouth 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 high tunnels, irrigation efficiency, and NAP coverage for specialty-crop acres. 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 Monmouth County Operations
Based on Monmouth County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Conservation programs address soil health improvement on sandy soils and water quality protection in coastal watersheds. Support for direct marketing operations helps farmers capitalize on the county's substantial tourist economy.
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 Burlington County, New Jersey, Mercer County, New Jersey, Middlesex County, New Jersey, Ocean County, New Jersey, Queens County, New York, and Richmond County, New York. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Monmouth County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the New Jersey guide: New Jersey Farm Programs Guide
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