Last updated April 2026
← All States

North Carolina Farm Programs: Hog & Poultry Waste, Tobacco & Sweet Potato

Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error

Quick Facts
Farms & Ranches ~46,400 (2022 USDA Census)
Top Commodities Hogs, poultry, tobacco, sweet potatoes, cattle & calves, cotton, corn, soybeans
Total Ag Land ~8.4 million acres
Average Farm Size ~181 acres
EQIP FY2026 Application Deadline Varies by area, contact your local NRCS office for current batching dates
CSP FY2026 Application Deadline Varies by area, contact your local NRCS office for current batching dates
State NRCS Office (919) 873-2103 · Raleigh, NC

Federal Programs in North Carolina

Federal programs like EQIP, CSP, and FSA loans are available nationwide, but how they work in practice varies by state. Each state sets its own EQIP priorities, ranking criteria, and application deadlines. Below is how the federal programs apply specifically in North Carolina. For full details on any program, read the federal program guides.

EQIP in North Carolina

North Carolina EQIP Priorities:

  • Water quality (nutrient management, hog and poultry operations)
  • Grazing management
  • Soil health on cropland
  • Livestock waste management
  • Wildlife habitat
  • Erosion control

Livestock-Specific Practices Commonly Funded:

  • Cross-fencing for rotational grazing
  • Livestock water development
  • Prescribed grazing systems
  • Waste management systems (hog and poultry)
  • Heavy use area protection
  • Riparian buffers
  • Nutrient management

EQIP in North Carolina: What to Ask About: North Carolina NRCS identifies nutrient management from animal operations as a top EQIP priority, with significant funding directed toward waste management and water quality practices for hog and poultry operations. In the mountain region, NRCS offers EQIP funding for grazing management and livestock water development. Ask your local office about the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) and other available initiatives in your area.

North Carolina EQIP payment schedules: Available on the North Carolina NRCS website.

→ Read the full EQIP guide

CSP in North Carolina

CSP rewards producers for conservation practices already in place and pays for new enhancements. Well-managed operations with rotational grazing, maintained fencing, and conservation practices are strong candidates.

→ Read the full CSP guide

FSA Programs in North Carolina

Current Disaster Designations: Check farmers.gov/protection-recovery for current drought and disaster designations in North Carolina.

Key FSA Programs:

  • Direct and Guaranteed Farm Ownership and Operating Loans
  • Microloans (up to $50,000, simplified application)
  • Emergency Farm Loans (for designated disaster areas)
  • Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). Hurricane (major, NC is highly vulnerable), flooding, drought
  • ELAP: covers drought-related grazing losses and emergency costs
  • Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), triggered by drought monitor conditions

North Carolina FSA State Office: (919) 875-4800

North Carolina-Specific Programs

North Carolina Division of Soil and Water Conservation

NC has 96 Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The state provides cost-share through the Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP), one of the oldest state conservation cost-share programs in the country.

Website: ncagr.gov/SWC

NC Cattlemen's Association

Website: nccattle.com

North Carolina Tax Provisions for Ag

  • Present Use Value: Agricultural land is assessed at its present use value for property taxes, significant savings near growing urban areas.
  • State Income Tax: Flat rate of 4.5%. Farm income is subject to state tax.
  • Sales Tax Exemptions: Farm equipment, livestock, feed, and agricultural inputs are generally exempt from NC sales tax.

RCPP in North Carolina

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funds conservation projects through partnerships between NRCS and local organizations. RCPP projects vary by state and year — check with your local NRCS office or visit the RCPP page for current projects in your area.

ACEP in North Carolina

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) helps landowners protect farmland and wetlands through conservation easements. Two components: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) protect working farmland, and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) restore and protect wetlands. Contact your local NRCS office for current enrollment.

Resources

USDA Offices

State Resources

Key Deadlines (FY2026)

Dates are approximate and subject to change. Always confirm with your local NRCS/FSA office.

Program Typical Deadline Window Notes
EQIP Primary Batching Nov–Feb (varies by area) Check with local NRCS for exact date
CSP Ranking Varies Check state ranking dates page
CRP General Sign-up When announced by FSA Not always open every year
LFP (Livestock Forage) Triggered by D2+ Drought Monitor designation Monitor drought conditions
LIP (Livestock Indemnity) 30 days after loss to file notice Don't miss this window
ELAP 30 days after loss to file notice Don't miss this window

Your Next Steps in North Carolina

  1. Run our eligibility screener to see your personalized program list: Take the eligibility screener
  2. Find your local USDA Service Center: farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator
  3. Read the federal program guides for programs you're interested in: EQIP · CSP · Beginning Farmer · Disaster Assistance
  4. Nutrient management from animal operations is NC's top EQIP priority
  5. NC's Agriculture Cost Share Program stacks with EQIP: apply through your local SWCD

Tools for North Carolina Ranchers

Run the numbers before your next USDA visit. Each tool takes 2–3 minutes.

EQIP Cost Estimator → PRF Rainfall Analysis → Drought Dashboard → Deadline Calendar → Emergency Triage → Program Screener →

County Guides (100 counties)

Each county guide includes local USDA office information, relevant programs, and conservation priorities specific to that area.

Alamancecattle, tobacco, soybeans · 724 farms Alexandercattle, milk, tobacco · 535 farms Alleghanycut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees, cattle · 435 farms Ansonhogs, corn, soybeans · 421 farms Ashecut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees, cattle · 760 farms Averycut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees, cattle · 335 farms Beaufortcorn, soybeans, hogs · 259 farms Bertiecotton, soybeans, tobacco · 288 farms Bladenhogs, corn, soybeans · 423 farms Brunswickhogs, sod, corn · 238 farms Buncombemilk, cattle, mushrooms · 1,074 farms Burkecut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees, cattle · 473 farms Cabarruscorn, soybeans, cattle · 630 farms Caldwellsoybeans, cattle, corn · 430 farms Camdencorn, soybeans, cattle · 76 farms Carteretcattle, honey · 94 farms Caswelltobacco, cattle, soybeans · 412 farms Catawbasoybeans, corn, milk · 608 farms Chathamcattle, milk, hogs · 1,076 farms Cherokeecorn, hogs, honey · 246 farms Chowancotton, soybeans, corn · 134 farms Claycattle, tomatoes, flowering plants, potted · 178 farms Clevelandcattle, soybeans, corn · 872 farms Columbushogs, corn, soybeans · 447 farms Cravenhogs, soybeans, corn · 292 farms Cumberlandhogs, sod, soybeans · 327 farms Currituckcorn, soybeans, wheat · 87 farms Dare18 farms Davidsonsoybeans, corn, cattle · 847 farms Daviesoybeans, corn, cattle · 594 farms Duplinhogs, corn, soybeans · 949 farms Durhamcattle, corn, equine · 212 farms Edgecombehogs, tobacco, cotton · 243 farms Forsythsoybeans, tobacco, corn · 482 farms Franklintobacco, soybeans, hogs · 518 farms Gastonsoybeans, corn, flowering plants, potted · 412 farms Gatescotton, hogs, soybeans · 122 farms Grahamcattle, hogs, goats · 70 farms Granvilletobacco, milk, soybeans · 483 farms Greenehogs, soybeans, tobacco · 210 farms Guilfordtobacco, soybeans, cattle · 775 farms Halifaxcotton, hogs, soybeans · 220 farms Harnetthogs, tobacco, soybeans · 563 farms Haywoodmilk, cattle, flowering plants, potted · 567 farms Hendersontransplants, flowering plants, potted, corn · 520 farms Hertfordcotton, tobacco, soybeans · 97 farms Hokehogs, corn, soybeans · 185 farms Hydecorn, soybeans, cotton · 123 farms Iredellmilk, cattle, soybeans · 894 farms Jacksoncut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees, corn · 236 farms Johnstonhogs, tobacco, soybeans · 964 farms Joneshogs, soybeans, cotton · 126 farms Leetobacco, soybeans, corn · 264 farms Lenoirhogs, soybeans, corn · 352 farms Lincolnmilk, cattle, soybeans · 552 farms Maconcattle, cut flowers & cut cultivated greens, equine · 346 farms Madisonsheep, tomatoes, goats · 535 farms Martincotton, soybeans, tobacco · 286 farms McDowellfoliage plants, cut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees · 298 farms Mecklenburghemp, equine, equine · 165 farms Mitchellcattle, cut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees · 263 farms Montgomeryhogs, corn, cattle · 210 farms Mooretobacco, soybeans, corn · 802 farms Nashtobacco, hogs, soybeans · 375 farms New Hanovercorn, honey, soybeans · 60 farms Northamptoncotton, hogs, soybeans · 257 farms Onslowhogs, sod, soybeans · 342 farms Orangecorn, cattle, soybeans · 687 farms Pamlicocorn, soybeans, rice · 81 farms Pasquotanksoybeans, corn · 133 farms Penderhogs, soybeans, corn · 354 farms Perquimanssoybeans, corn, cotton · 137 farms Persontobacco, soybeans, corn · 364 farms Pitthogs, soybeans, tobacco · 367 farms Polkcattle, equine, honey · 274 farms Randolphmilk, cattle, hogs · 1,238 farms Richmondhogs, corn, cattle · 261 farms Robesonhogs, corn, soybeans · 732 farms Rockinghamtobacco, soybeans, cattle · 769 farms Rowansoybeans, cattle, corn · 801 farms Rutherfordcattle, corn, equine · 614 farms Sampsonhogs, soybeans, tobacco · 882 farms Scotlandcotton, soybeans, corn · 121 farms Stanlycorn, cotton, soybeans · 649 farms Stokescattle, tobacco, soybeans · 726 farms Surryhogs, soybeans, corn · 933 farms Swaincattle, equine, equine · 70 farms Transylvaniacattle, corn, goats · 142 farms Tyrrellcorn, soybeans, cattle · 73 farms Unionsoybeans, wheat, corn · 882 farms Vancetobacco, soybeans, cut christmas trees · 170 farms Waketobacco, soybeans, sod · 664 farms Warrensoybeans, tobacco, cattle · 237 farms Washingtoncorn, soybeans, cotton · 110 farms Wataugacut christmas trees, cut christmas trees & short term woody trees, cattle · 400 farms Waynehogs, soybeans, tobacco · 415 farms Wilkescattle, corn, soybeans · 871 farms Wilsontobacco, soybeans, cotton · 207 farms Yadkinsoybeans, corn, tobacco · 754 farms Yanceycattle, corn, cut christmas trees · 288 farms

Built by ranchers who've been through it. Every guide on this site is free.

By Doug McCarty · Spencer Shadow Ranch, Oregon · Last updated 2026-04