Monmouth County, New Jersey: USDA programs and conservation funding

931
Farms & Ranches
44K
Acres in Agriculture
48
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$170K
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Equine, Flowering Plants, Potted, Grain, Soybeans, Corn
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Monmouth County, New Jersey has 931 farms working 44,226 agricultural acres (average 48 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $0.2 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Equine, Flowering Plants, Potted, Grain. Vegetation typically peaks in Aug, 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 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

RegionCentral New Jersey Coastal
Top CommoditiesFloriculture, Horses, Vegetables, Fruit & tree nuts, Soybeans, Poultry

Current Conditions

Drought status: Abnormally Dry (D0) — monitor conditions.

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 Monmouth County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

4000 Kozloski Rd Ste D, Freehold, NJ 07728

(732) 462-0075

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 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

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

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

Related program guides

EQIP Water DevelopmentCSPCRP

Vegetation Baseline

0.58
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.77
Peak season (Aug)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Monmouth 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.