Franklin County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

505
Farms & Ranches
110K
Acres in Agriculture
219
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$26.3M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Milk, Field Crops, Other, Grain, Sheep
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Franklin County, Texas has 505 farms working 110,438 agricultural acres (average 219 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $26.3 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Milk, 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 Franklin County

The county falls within the Texas Claypan Area, Northern Part (MLRA 87B) land resource region.

Rainfall averages 47.1 inches per year. January lows average around 35°F while July highs reach about 94°F.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 505 farms in Franklin County, operating across 110,438 acres of farmland. The average farm spans 219 acres. Top commodities include cattle, milk, and sheep.


Quick Facts

RegionNortheast Texas
Top CommoditiesPoultry, Cattle & calves, Dairy, Sheep, Fruit & tree nuts, Horses

Current Conditions

Drought status: Extreme Drought (D3). LFP-eligible for 13+ 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 Franklin County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

1809 W Ferguson Rd, Mount Pleasant, TX 75455

(903) 572-5411

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 Franklin County Operations

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

Pasture improvement, poultry and dairy waste management, and water quality.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Nutrient management, waste management, cross-fencing, prescribed grazing, and riparian buffers.

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 Franklin County: Camp County, Texas, Delta County, Texas, Hopkins County, Texas, Red River County, Texas, Titus County, Texas, and Wood County, Texas. Each runs its own Local Working Group and may prioritize different conservation practices.

Your Next Steps in Franklin 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 FencingCRPEQIP Prescribed GrazingCSPEQIP Water Development

Vegetation Baseline

0.72
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.75
Peak season (Jun)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Franklin 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.