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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Lawrence County
Lawrence County sits within the Lake Erie Glaciated Plateau (MLRA 139) region. Elevation averages about 967 feet.
Temperatures in Lawrence County range from a January mean low of 19°F to a July mean high near 83°F. Annual precipitation averages 42.4 inches. Expect about 275 frost-free days.
Lawrence County ran 585 farms, 96,812 acres of farmland, and 5,987 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: milk, corn, and soybeans.
Quick Facts
| Region | Western Pennsylvania |
| Top Commodities | Dairy, Corn, Soybeans, Cattle & calves, Vegetables, Fruit & tree nuts |
Current Conditions
Drought status: None (None).
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 Lawrence County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
24 Avalon Court, Suite 200, Mercer, PA 16137
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 Lawrence County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 10% of farmland in Lawrence County, about 9,910 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around April and forage peaks in August. 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 Lawrence County
Farms in Lawrence County average 165 acres, and about 23% are small operations. Roughly 23% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 434 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Lawrence County
Given the operation mix in Lawrence County, the practices that most often come up are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing for grazing operations; waste storage, nutrient management, and Dairy Margin Coverage for dairies; and cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election for row-crop ground. 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 Lawrence County Operations
Based on Lawrence County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Water quality improvement programs focus on the Ohio River watershed through nutrient management and conservation practices. Farm transition and beginning farmer programs support agricultural sustainability.
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 Columbiana County, Ohio, Mahoning County, Ohio, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Lawrence County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Pennsylvania guide: Pennsylvania Farm Programs Guide
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