Kinney County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

190
Farms & Ranches
616K
Acres in Agriculture
3,242
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$2.5M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Goats, Honey, Deer
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Kinney County, Texas has 190 farms working 615,924 agricultural acres (average 3,242 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $2.5 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Goats, Honey. Vegetation typically peaks in Nov, defining the primary growing season.

Programs likely to fit Kinney County operations

With 190 farms averaging 3,242 acres, a cattle and goats commodity base, vegetation peaking near Nov at 0.52 NDVI, these are the federal programs most worth a closer look. Every program is competitive — confirm fit with your local USDA office.

← Texas Farm Programs Guide

Farm Programs & Local Resources

Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error

Kinney County is located in the South Texas / Edwards Plateau region of Texas. Agriculture here is anchored by cattle & calves, with the county’s operations reflecting the broader character of South Texas / Edwards Plateau agriculture.


Quick Facts

RegionSouth Texas / Edwards Plateau
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Goats, Honey, Deer

Current Conditions

Drought status: None (None).

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor · Updated 2026-09-08

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 Kinney County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

117 Ranch Road 693, Brackettville, TX 78832

(830) 563-2414

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

103 Weeping Willow, Uvalde, TX 78801

(830) 278-2014

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.


Forage and Grazing in Kinney County

Kinney County reported 828 head of cattle across roughly 510,297 acres of pasture and rangeland. Satellite data for 2021–2025 shows May green-up and a November growth peak. Because LFP counts drought weeks only within the county’s normal grazing period, it is worth asking FSA what dates they use for Kinney County.


Farm Structure in Kinney County

Kinney County reports about 1,594 acres under irrigation. Farms average 3,242 acres, with about 10% classed as small operations. Around 29% of operators are 65 or older.


What Tends to Fit in Kinney County

Given the operation mix in Kinney County, the practices that most often come up are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing for grazing operations; pollinator habitat plantings for apiaries; and brush management for rangeland. Whether any of them scores well depends on your county's Local Working Group priorities, which NRCS can walk you through before you apply.


Programs for Kinney County Operations

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

Brush management, rangeland health, wildlife habitat, and springs/aquifer protection.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Brush management, prescribed burning, livestock water development, wildlife habitat management, 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

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 Kinney County

Kinney County shares borders with Edwards County, Texas, Maverick County, Texas, Uvalde County, Texas, Val Verde County, Texas, and Zavala 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 Kinney 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 ManagementEQIP Fencing

Vegetation Baseline

0.35
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.52
Peak season (Nov)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Kinney 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.