St. Lawrence County, New York: USDA programs and conservation funding

1,008
Farms & Ranches
290K
Acres in Agriculture
288
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$17.6M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Milk, Grain, Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Corn
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

St. Lawrence County, New York has 1,008 farms working 290,391 agricultural acres (average 288 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $17.6 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Milk, Grain, Cattle. 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 St. Lawrence County

St. Lawrence County sits within the St. Lawrence-Champlain Plain (MLRA 142) region. Elevation averages about 739 feet.

Temperatures in St. Lawrence County range from a January mean low of 7°F to a July mean high near 79°F. Annual precipitation averages 41.1 inches. Expect about 214 frost-free days.

St. Lawrence County ran 1,008 farms, 290,391 acres of farmland, and 42,518 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: milk, cattle, and corn.


Quick Facts

RegionNorth Country
Top CommoditiesDairy, Cattle & calves, Corn, Soybeans, Fruit & tree nuts, Maple syrup

Current Conditions

Drought status: None (None).

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 St. Lawrence County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

1942 Old Dekalb Rd, Canton, NY 13617

(315) 386-2401

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 St. Lawrence County Operations

Based on St. Lawrence County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:

Large dairy operation management programs focus on nutrient management and environmental stewardship. Cross-border agricultural initiatives coordinate conservation efforts with Canadian farmers in the shared St. Lawrence River watershed.

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 Franklin County, New York, Hamilton County, New York, Herkimer County, New York, Jefferson County, New York, and Lewis County, New York. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in St. Lawrence County

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

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

Related program guides

EQIP FencingCSPEQIP Water Development

Vegetation Baseline

0.58
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.90
Peak season (Jul)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for St. Lawrence 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.