Edwards County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

456
Farms & Ranches
1.0M
Acres in Agriculture
2,217
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$5.4M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Goats, Goats, Sheep, Goats
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Edwards County, Texas has 456 farms working 1,011,179 agricultural acres (average 2,217 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $5.4 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Goats, Goats. Vegetation typically peaks in Sep, 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 Edwards County

Elevation across Edwards County averages about 2,310 feet. The county falls within the Edwards Plateau, Central Part (MLRA 81B) land resource region.

Rainfall averages 23.7 inches per year. January lows average around 36°F while July highs reach about 93°F.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 456 farms in Edwards County, operating across 1,011,179 acres of farmland. The average farm spans 2,217 acres. Top commodities include cattle, goats, and goats.


Quick Facts

RegionEdwards Plateau / Hill Country
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Goats, Sheep, Deer, Bison, Horses

Current Conditions

Drought status: Moderate Drought (D1) — watch for worsening; LFP not currently triggered.

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 Edwards County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

100 S. Sweeten St, Rocksprings, TX 78880

(830) 683-2187

This county also has 1 additional NRCS office. View all offices

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 Edwards County Operations

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

Rangeland health, brush management (cedar), wildlife habitat, and livestock water.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Brush management (cedar/juniper), prescribed burning, livestock water development, prescribed grazing, and wildlife habitat management.

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

Adjacent Counties

Counties bordering Edwards County: Kerr County, Texas, Kimble County, Texas, Kinney County, Texas, Real County, Texas, Sutton County, Texas, and Uvalde County, Texas. Each runs its own Local Working Group and may prioritize different conservation practices.

Your Next Steps in Edwards 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 Management

Vegetation Baseline

0.33
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.41
Peak season (Sep)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Edwards 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.