Josephine County, Oregon: USDA programs and conservation funding

605
Farms & Ranches
31K
Acres in Agriculture
51
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$2.5M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Milk, Cattle, Floriculture, Other, Equine, Equine
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Josephine County, Oregon has 605 farms working 30,563 agricultural acres (average 51 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $2.5 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Milk, Cattle, Floriculture, Other. Vegetation typically peaks in Jan, 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 Josephine County

Josephine County is part of the Siskiyou-Trinity Area land resource region (MLRA 5). The county's mean elevation is about 2,005 feet.

Based on 1991–2020 normals, Josephine County sees 53.9 in of rain, a 51.4°F mean annual temperature.

Josephine County carries 3,015 head of cattle (2022 Ag Census). Pastureland totals 8,476 acres. 605 farms operate in the county, averaging 51 acres each.


Quick Facts

RegionSouthern Oregon
Top CommoditiesFruit & tree nuts, Dairy, Floriculture, Vegetables, Cattle & calves, Berries

Current Conditions

Drought status: Severe Drought (D2).

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 Josephine County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

2593 NW Kline St, Roseburg, OR 97471

(541) 673-6071

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

89 Alder St, Central Point, OR 97502

(541) 423-6156

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 Josephine County Operations

Based on the agricultural profile of Josephine County, these programs are most likely to be relevant:

The high proportion of beginning and small-scale farmers makes enhanced EQIP rates and FSA microloans especially relevant. Riparian restoration along the Rogue and Illinois Rivers is a CREP priority.

Not sure which programs fit? Run our free eligibility screener. It takes 2 minutes and generates a personalized action packet you can print and bring to your USDA office.


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

Nearby Counties

Operators in Josephine County frequently work or lease ground across county lines. Neighboring counties include Del Norte County, California, Siskiyou County, California, Curry County, Oregon, Douglas County, Oregon, and Jackson County, Oregon. USDA programs and local NRCS priorities may differ from one jurisdiction to the next.

Your Next Steps in Josephine County

  1. Run the eligibility screener to see which programs fit your operation: Free Screener
  2. Find your local USDA Service Center and call to schedule a meeting: Service Center Locator
  3. Read the full Oregon guide for statewide program details, deadlines, and office contacts: Oregon Farm Programs Guide

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

Related program guides

EQIP FencingCRPEQIP Prescribed GrazingCSP

Vegetation Baseline

0.74
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.82
Peak season (Jan)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Josephine 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.