Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Cooke County
Cooke County sits within the Grand Prairie (MLRA 85A) region. Elevation averages about 783 feet.
Temperatures in Cooke County range from a January mean low of 32°F to a July mean high near 95°F. Annual precipitation averages 38.7 inches.
Cooke County ran 2,188 farms, 513,278 acres of farmland, and 91,898 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, equine, and equine.
Quick Facts
| Region | North Texas / Cross Timbers |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Horses, Wheat, Fruit & tree nuts, Grain sorghum, Corn |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Severe Drought (D2).
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 Cooke County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
2200 N Grand Ave, Gainesville, TX 76240
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 Cooke County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 59% of farmland in Cooke County, about 300,906 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around March and forage peaks in May. 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 Cooke County
Farms in Cooke County average 235 acres, and about 38% are small operations. Roughly 23% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 10,291 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Cooke County
Cooke County's top commodities in the 2022 Census were cattle, grain, and equine. That mix shapes which conservation practices tend to be worth asking about — for grazing operations, prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing; for row-crop ground, cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election; and for rangeland, brush management. Your local NRCS office sets the ranking pools each year and can tell you which ones your operation falls into.
Programs for Cooke County Operations
Based on the agricultural profile of Cooke County, these programs are most likely to be relevant:
Pasture improvement, water quality in the Red River and Trinity watersheds, and livestock infrastructure.
Commonly funded practices in this area: Cross-fencing, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, livestock water development, and heavy use area protection.
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 Love County, Oklahoma, Denton County, Texas, Grayson County, Texas, Montague County, Texas, and Wise County, Texas. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Cooke 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
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