Cass County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

939
Farms & Ranches
139K
Acres in Agriculture
148
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$7.1M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Equine, Equine, Honey
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Cass County, Texas has 939 farms working 139,124 agricultural acres (average 148 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $7.1 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Equine. Vegetation typically peaks in Aug, 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 Cass County

Cass County is part of the Western Coastal Plain land resource region (MLRA 133B). The county's mean elevation is about 447 feet.

Based on 1991–2020 normals, Cass County sees 50.3 in of rain, a 64.7°F mean annual temperature.

Cass County carries 18,699 head of cattle (2022 Ag Census). Pastureland totals 45,965 acres. 939 farms operate in the county, averaging 148 acres each.


Quick Facts

RegionNortheast Texas / Piney Woods
Top CommoditiesPoultry, Cattle & calves, Fruit & tree nuts, Horses, Vegetables, Honey

Current Conditions

Drought status: Extreme Drought (D3). LFP-eligible for 12+ 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 Cass County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

207 Highway 8 N, Linden, TX 75563

(903) 756-5491

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

905 W Us Highway 82, New Boston, TX 75570

(903) 628-6509

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 Cass County Operations

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

Pasture improvement, forest health, water quality, and poultry litter management.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Forest stand improvement, prescribed burning, cross-fencing, nutrient management, prescribed grazing, and riparian buffers.

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

Nearby Counties

Operators in Cass County frequently work or lease ground across county lines. Neighboring counties include Miller County, Arkansas, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, Bowie County, Texas, Marion County, Texas, and Morris County, Texas. USDA programs and local NRCS priorities may differ from one jurisdiction to the next.

Your Next Steps in Cass 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 FencingCRPEQIP Prescribed GrazingCSPEQIP Water Development

Vegetation Baseline

0.79
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.84
Peak season (Aug)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Cass 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.