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Shelby County, Tennessee

Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

Shelby County lies in the Mississippi River bottomlands with fertile alluvial soils and relatively flat terrain. The Mississippi River forms the western boundary, while Wolf River and Loosahatchie River drain the interior portions of the county.

Despite urban pressure from Memphis, the county maintains significant agricultural production focused on cotton, soybeans, and corn on large mechanized farms. Remaining agricultural areas utilize intensive farming practices on highly productive river bottom soils.

Quick Facts
RegionWest Tennessee
Top CommoditiesSoybeans, Corn, Horses, Wheat, Floriculture, Cattle & calves
Farms & Ranches~380 (approx.)
Agricultural Land~91,000 acres
Average Farm Size~218 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 "Shelby 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 Shelby County Operations

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

Conservation efforts focus on water quality protection in the Mississippi River watershed through cover crops and precision agriculture. Urban interface programs help remaining farmers deal with development pressure and liability issues.

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 Shelby County's specific LWG priorities yet.

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

Your Next Steps in Shelby County

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

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