Hockley County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

897
Farms & Ranches
547K
Acres in Agriculture
610
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$4.4M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cotton, Grain, Sorghum, Corn, Cattle
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Hockley County, Texas has 897 farms working 546,993 agricultural acres (average 610 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $4.4 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cotton, Grain, Sorghum. Vegetation typically peaks in Jul, 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 Hockley County

Temperatures in Hockley County range from a January mean low of 27°F to a July mean high near 93°F. Annual precipitation averages 17.9 inches. Expect about 303 frost-free days.

Hockley County ran 897 farms, 546,993 acres of farmland, and 197 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cotton, sorghum, and corn.


Quick Facts

RegionSouth Plains
Top CommoditiesCotton, Grain sorghum, Corn, Cattle & calves, Wheat, Fruit & tree nuts

Current Conditions

Drought status: Severe Drought (D2). 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 Hockley County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

703 Avenue I, Levelland, TX 79336

(806) 894-4774

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 Hockley County Operations

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

Irrigation efficiency (Ogallala), wind erosion, and soil health.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Irrigation water management, cover crops, residue management, windbreak establishment, 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 Bailey County, Texas, Cochran County, Texas, Hale County, Texas, Lamb County, Texas, Lubbock County, Texas, and Lynn County, Texas. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in Hockley 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 Water DevelopmentCSPCRP

Vegetation Baseline

0.24
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.37
Peak season (Jul)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Hockley 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.