Aransas County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

79
Farms & Ranches
43K
Acres in Agriculture
543
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$1.3M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Equine, Equine, Field Crops, Other, Sheep
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Aransas County, Texas has 79 farms working 42,886 agricultural acres (average 543 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $1.3 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Equine, Equine.

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Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

About Aransas County

Elevation across Aransas County averages about 0 feet. The county falls within the Gulf Coast Saline Prairies (MLRA 150B) land resource region.

Rainfall averages 36.1 inches per year. January lows average around 47°F while July highs reach about 91°F.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 79 farms in Aransas County, operating across 42,886 acres of farmland. The average farm spans 543 acres. Top commodities include cattle, equine, and equine.


Quick Facts

RegionCoastal Bend
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Vegetables, Horses, Poultry, Sheep

Current Conditions

Drought status: Extreme Drought (D3). LFP-eligible for 19+ weeks — check FSA for livestock forage assistance.

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 Aransas County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

603 E Empresario St, Refugio, TX 78377

(361) 526-2531

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

7439 Hwy 77, Sinton, TX 78387

(361) 364-1371

This county also has 1 additional NRCS office. View all offices

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 Aransas County Operations

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

Coastal prairie restoration, wildlife habitat (whooping crane corridor), brush management, and water quality protection.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Brush management, prescribed grazing, wildlife habitat management, prescribed burning for coastal prairie, and water quality improvement.

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

Adjacent Counties

Counties bordering Aransas County: Calhoun County, Texas, Nueces County, Texas, Refugio County, Texas, and San Patricio County, Texas. Each runs its own Local Working Group and may prioritize different conservation practices.

Your Next Steps in Aransas 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 Texas guide for statewide program details, deadlines, and office contacts: Texas Farm Programs Guide

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

Related program guides

EQIP Prescribed GrazingCSPEQIP Water DevelopmentEQIP Brush Management

Quick Tools for Aransas 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.