Rhea County, Tennessee

Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

Valley and ridge terrain between the Cumberland Plateau and Tennessee River with elevations from 650 to 1,800 feet. Watts Bar Lake and Chickamauga Lake form extensive shoreline, while mountain valleys provide agricultural land between forested ridges.

Mixed farming operations include beef cattle on hillside pastures and crop production in valley bottoms. The county has some poultry operations and maintains traditional agriculture with hay, corn, and pasture systems in mountain valleys.

Quick Facts


Region	Southeast Tennessee
Top Commodities	Vegetables, Cattle & calves, Corn, Soybeans, Fruit & tree nuts, Wheat
Farms & Ranches	~420 (approx.)
Agricultural Land	~63,000 acres
Average Farm Size	~133 acres

Find Your Local USDA Offices

Your nearest USDA Service Center houses both NRCS and FSA under one roof.

Find your Service Center:

→ USDA Service Center Locator

Search for "Rhea County" to find your local NRCS and FSA offices.

What to do when you call: Ask for a conservation planner (EQIP/CSP) or loan officer (FSA). Mention your operation type and planned improvements.

Programs for Rhea County Operations

Based on Rhea County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:

CREP programs protect water quality around Watts Bar and Chickamauga Lakes through shoreline and riparian management. Conservation efforts focus on erosion control on sloping pastures and valley cropland.

Not sure which programs fit? Run our free eligibility screener — 2 minutes, personalized action packet.

Local Conservation Priorities

EQIP applications addressing local priorities score higher in ranking.

We don't have Rhea County's specific LWG priorities yet.

Ask your local NRCS office: "What are the priority resource concerns in Rhea County?"

Your Next Steps in Rhea County

Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
Read the Tennessee guide: Tennessee Farm Programs Guide

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