Callahan County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

1,050
Farms & Ranches
468K
Acres in Agriculture
446
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$17.3M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Equine, Equine, Field Crops, Other, Sheep
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Callahan County, Texas has 1,050 farms working 468,449 agricultural acres (average 446 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $17.3 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Equine, Equine. Vegetation typically peaks in Jun, defining the primary growing season.

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Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

About Callahan County

Callahan County lies in the Rolling Limestone Prairie (MLRA 78A) region. Elevation averages about 1,829 feet.

Callahan County averages 28.6 inches of precipitation annually (1991–2020 NOAA normals). Annual mean temperature is 64.5°F.

Callahan County's agricultural base centers on cattle, equine, and equine. The 2022 Ag Census recorded 1,050 farms working 468,449 acres. Cattle inventory stands at 899 head.


Quick Facts

RegionWest Central Texas / Cross Timbers
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Horses, Sheep, Wheat, Goats, Poultry

Current Conditions

Drought status: Abnormally Dry (D0) — monitor conditions.

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 Callahan County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

141 W 4th St, Baird, TX 79504

(325) 854-1049

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 Callahan County Operations

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

Rangeland improvement, brush management, soil health, and livestock water development.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Brush management, cross-fencing, prescribed grazing, cover crops, livestock water development, and prescribed burning.

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

Counties Bordering Callahan County

Callahan County shares borders with Brown County, Texas, Coleman County, Texas, Eastland County, Texas, Jones County, Texas, Shackelford County, Texas, and Taylor County, Texas. Conservation priorities, EQIP ranking pools, and drought conditions often overlap across county lines — it's worth checking neighboring county pages if your operation spans multiple jurisdictions.

Your Next Steps in Callahan 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 ManagementCRPEQIP Fencing

Vegetation Baseline

0.43
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.51
Peak season (Jun)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Callahan 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.