Jackson County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

825
Farms & Ranches
353K
Acres in Agriculture
428
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$21.8M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Grain, Corn, Cattle, Cotton, Field Crops, Other
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Jackson County, Texas has 825 farms working 353,038 agricultural acres (average 428 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $21.8 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Grain, Corn, Cattle. 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

Jackson County is located in the Mid-Coast / Gulf Plains region of Texas. Agriculture here is anchored by cattle & calves, with the county’s operations reflecting the broader character of Mid-Coast / Gulf Plains agriculture.


Quick Facts

RegionMid-Coast / Gulf Plains
Top CommoditiesCorn, Cattle & calves, Cotton, Rice, Deer, Horses

Current Conditions

Drought status: Extreme Drought (D3). LFP-eligible for 23+ 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 Jackson County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

700 N Wells St Ste 202, Edna, TX 77957

(361) 782-3361

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 Jackson County Operations

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

Rice field water management, water quality, coastal prairie management, and soil health.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Water management, nutrient management, prescribed grazing, cover crops, 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

Counties Bordering Jackson County

Jackson County shares borders with Calhoun County, Texas, Colorado County, Texas, Lavaca County, Texas, Matagorda County, Texas, Victoria County, Texas, and Wharton 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 Jackson 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 DevelopmentCRP

Vegetation Baseline

0.60
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.64
Peak season (Apr)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Jackson 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.