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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Craig County
Craig County sits within the Cherokee Prairies (MLRA 112) region. Elevation averages about 768 feet.
Temperatures in Craig County range from a January mean low of 26°F to a July mean high near 91°F. Annual precipitation averages 44.7 inches. Expect about 334 frost-free days.
Craig County ran 1,001 farms, 472,834 acres of farmland, and 102,217 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, wheat, and soybeans.
Quick Facts
| Region | Northeastern Oklahoma |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Poultry, Wheat, Soybeans, Corn, Dairy |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Severe Drought (D2).
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 Craig County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
235 W Hope Ave, Vinita, OK 74301
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 Craig County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 70% of farmland in Craig County, about 328,649 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around May and forage peaks in June. 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 Craig County
Farms in Craig County average 472 acres, and about 12% are small operations. Roughly 20% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 1,346 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Craig County
Given the operation mix in Craig 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 brush management for rangeland. 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 Craig County Operations
Based on Craig County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Grazing systems management maintains productive pastures on rolling terrain while protecting water quality in Grand Lake watershed. Riparian forest buffers along creeks provide wildlife habitat and prevent streambank erosion.
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 Cherokee County, Kansas, Labette County, Kansas, Delaware County, Oklahoma, Mayes County, Oklahoma, Nowata County, Oklahoma, and Ottawa County, Oklahoma. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Craig County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Oklahoma guide: Oklahoma Farm Programs Guide
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