Denton County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

2,936
Farms & Ranches
272K
Acres in Agriculture
93
Avg Farm Size (acres)
Top commodities: Equine, Equine, Grain, Wheat, Equine
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Denton County, Texas has 2,936 farms working 272,184 agricultural acres (average 93 acres per farm). Leading commodities by sales: Equine, Equine, Grain. Vegetation typically peaks in Apr, 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 Denton County

Denton County lies in the Grand Prairie (MLRA 85A) region. Elevation averages about 653 feet.

Denton County averages 38.4 inches of precipitation annually (1991–2020 NOAA normals). Annual mean temperature is 65.2°F.

Denton County's agricultural base centers on equine, equine, and wheat. The 2022 Ag Census recorded 2,936 farms working 272,184 acres. Cattle inventory stands at 27,503 head.


Quick Facts

RegionNorth Texas / Cross Timbers
Top CommoditiesHorses, Wheat, Fruit & tree nuts, Berries, Grain sorghum, Goats

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 Denton County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

525 S Loop 288 Ste C, Denton, TX 76205

(940) 383-2691

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 Denton County Operations

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

Urban-edge agriculture, water quality, pasture improvement, and soil health.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Cross-fencing, prescribed grazing, cover crops, nutrient management, 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

Counties Bordering Denton County

Denton County shares borders with Collin County, Texas, Cooke County, Texas, Dallas County, Texas, Grayson County, Texas, Tarrant County, Texas, and Wise 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 Denton 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 DevelopmentCRPEQIP Fencing

Vegetation Baseline

0.55
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.62
Peak season (Apr)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Denton 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.