Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Childress County
Childress County sits within the Central Rolling Red Plains, Western Part (MLRA 78B) region. Elevation averages about 1,717 feet.
Temperatures in Childress County range from a January mean low of 28°F to a July mean high near 97°F. Annual precipitation averages 24.2 inches. Expect about 334 frost-free days.
Childress County ran 334 farms, 444,942 acres of farmland, and 8,402 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cotton, cattle, and equine.
Quick Facts
| Region | Rolling Plains |
| Top Commodities | Cotton, Cattle & calves, Horses, Fruit & tree nuts |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Extreme Drought (D3). LFP-eligible for 27+ weeks — check FSA for livestock forage assistance.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor · Updated 2026-09-08
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 Childress County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
305 Avenue B NW, Childress, TX 79201
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.
Forage and Grazing in Childress County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 71% of farmland in Childress County, about 317,235 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around March and forage peaks in June. FSA sets the county’s normal grazing period separately; ask your office to confirm it, because LFP counts only the drought weeks that fall inside it.
Farm Structure in Childress County
Farms in Childress County average 1,332 acres, and about 4% are small operations. Roughly 33% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 6,459 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Childress County
With cattle and equine in the mix in Childress County, the practices worth raising with NRCS are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing (grazing operations); cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election (row-crop ground); and brush management (rangeland). Ask which ranking pool your operation fits and what scored well locally last cycle — that conversation is usually more useful than guessing from the practice list.
Programs for Childress County Operations
Based on the agricultural profile of Childress County, these programs are most likely to be relevant:
Rangeland restoration, brush management (mesquite), and soil health on cropland.
Commonly funded practices in this area: Brush management, prescribed grazing, cross-fencing, cover crops, and livestock water development.
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
Bordering Counties
If your operation extends into or you compare conditions against adjacent counties, see Harmon County, Oklahoma, Collingsworth County, Texas, Cottle County, Texas, Hall County, Texas, and Hardeman County, Texas. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Childress County
- Run the eligibility screener to see which programs fit your operation: Free Screener
- Find your local USDA Service Center and call to schedule a meeting: Service Center Locator
- 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.