Fort Bend County, Texas
Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
Fort Bend County is located in the Upper Gulf Coast region of Texas. Agriculture here is anchored by rice, with the county’s operations reflecting the broader character of Upper Gulf Coast agriculture.
Quick Facts
| Region | Upper Gulf Coast |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Rice, Cotton, Corn, Floriculture, Grain sorghum |
| Farms & Ranches | ~1,200 (2022 USDA Census) |
| Agricultural Land | ~320,000 acres |
| Average Farm Size | ~260 acres |
Find 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) under one roof. Texas has over 200 Service Centers — most counties have one, and some share across county lines.
Find your Service Center:
Search for “Fort Bend County” to find your local NRCS and FSA offices, including address, phone number, and hours.
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. They’ll tell you what to bring to the meeting.
Programs for Fort Bend County Operations
Based on the agricultural profile of Fort Bend County, these programs are most likely to be relevant:
Rice field water management, water quality, urban-edge agriculture, and soil health.
Commonly funded practices in this area: Water management on rice, nutrient management, cover crops, and prescribed grazing.
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
Every county has specific conservation priorities set by the Local Working Group (LWG) — a committee of local ranchers, farmers, NRCS staff, and conservation partners. EQIP applications that address local priorities score higher in the ranking process.
We don’t have Fort Bend County’s specific LWG priorities yet.
Ask your local NRCS office: “What are the priority resource concerns in Fort Bend County?” This directly affects how your EQIP application is scored. You can also attend the annual LWG meeting — they’re open to all producers.
Your Next Steps in Fort Bend 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
This guide is part of Farmer’s Navigator. Built by ranchers. Free for everyone.