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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Butte County
Butte County sits within the Pierre Shale Plains (MLRA 60A) region. Elevation averages about 3,153 feet.
Temperatures in Butte County range from a January mean low of 10°F to a July mean high near 87°F. Annual precipitation averages 16.5 inches. Expect about 214 frost-free days.
Butte County ran 579 farms, 1,348,702 acres of farmland, and 35,712 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, sheep, and corn.
Quick Facts
| Region | Northwest |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Sheep, Corn, Horses, Grain sorghum, Wheat |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Extreme Drought (D3). LFP-eligible for 16+ weeks — check FSA for livestock forage assistance.
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 Butte County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
1837 5th Ave S, Belle Fourche, SD 57717
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 Butte County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 88% of farmland in Butte County, about 1,186,813 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around April and forage peaks in May. 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 Butte County
Farms in Butte County average 2,329 acres, and about 13% are small operations. Roughly 27% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 36,686 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Butte County
With cattle and sheep in the mix in Butte County, the practices worth raising with NRCS are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing (grazing operations); cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election (row-crop ground); and brush management (rangeland). Ask which ranking pool your operation fits and what scored well locally last cycle — that conversation is usually more useful than guessing from the practice list.
Programs for Butte County Operations
Based on Butte County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Conservation programs focus on forest health, riparian protection, and sustainable grazing management in sensitive mountain ecosystems. EQIP supports infrastructure development for rotational grazing systems in forest allotments.
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 Carter County, Montana, Harding County, South Dakota, Lawrence County, South Dakota, Meade County, South Dakota, Perkins County, South Dakota, and Crook County, Wyoming. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Butte County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the South Dakota guide: South Dakota Farm Programs Guide
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