Cottle County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

258
Farms & Ranches
569K
Acres in Agriculture
2,205
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$14.6M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Cotton, Field Crops, Other, Sheep, Equine
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Cottle County, Texas has 258 farms working 569,008 agricultural acres (average 2,205 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $14.6 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Cotton, Field Crops, Other. 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 Cottle County

Cottle County sits within the Central Rolling Red Plains, Western Part (MLRA 78B) region. Elevation averages about 2,000 feet.

Temperatures in Cottle County range from a January mean low of 29°F to a July mean high near 97°F. Annual precipitation averages 23.5 inches.

Cottle County ran 258 farms, 569,008 acres of farmland, and 4,867 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, cotton, and sheep.


Quick Facts

RegionRolling Plains
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Cotton, Sheep, Horses, Poultry

Current Conditions

Drought status: Extreme Drought (D3). LFP-eligible for 10+ 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 Cottle County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

920 Bray, W Hwy 70, Paducah, TX 79248

(806) 492-3537

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 Cottle County Operations

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

Rangeland restoration, brush management, and cropland soil health.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Brush management, prescribed grazing, cover crops, livestock water development, and range planting.

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 Childress County, Texas, Dickens County, Texas, Foard County, Texas, Hall County, Texas, Hardeman County, Texas, and King County, Texas. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in Cottle 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 ManagementCRP

Vegetation Baseline

0.43
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.52
Peak season (Jun)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Cottle 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.