Kleberg County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

380
Farms & Ranches
471K
Acres in Agriculture
1,239
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$35.0M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Cotton, Grain, Sorghum, Field Crops, Other
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Kleberg County, Texas has 380 farms working 470,997 agricultural acres (average 1,239 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $35.0 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Cotton, Grain. Vegetation typically peaks in Jun, defining the primary growing season.

Programs likely to fit Kleberg County operations

With 380 farms averaging 1,239 acres, a cattle and cotton commodity base, vegetation peaking near Jun at 0.61 NDVI, these are the federal programs most worth a closer look. Every program is competitive — confirm fit with your local USDA office.

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Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

About Kleberg County

Temperatures in Kleberg County range from a January mean low of 48°F to a July mean high near 94°F. Annual precipitation averages 27.3 inches.

Kleberg County ran 380 farms, 470,997 acres of farmland, and 2,390 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, cotton, and sorghum.


Quick Facts

RegionSouth Texas / Coastal Bend
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Cotton, Grain sorghum, Horses, Goats, Poultry

Current Conditions

Drought status: Severe Drought (D2).

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 Kleberg County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

100 E. Kleberg Ave., Kingsville, TX 78363

(361) 592-4349

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 Kleberg County

Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 86% of farmland in Kleberg County, about 406,290 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around May and forage peaks in June. FSA sets the county’s normal grazing period separately; ask your office to confirm it, because LFP counts only the drought weeks that fall inside it.


Farm Structure in Kleberg County

Farms in Kleberg County average 1,239 acres, and about 38% are small operations. Roughly 27% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 18 acres are irrigated.


What Tends to Fit in Kleberg County

Kleberg County's top commodities in the 2022 Census were cattle, cotton, and grain. That mix shapes which conservation practices tend to be worth asking about — for grazing operations, prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing; for row-crop ground, cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election; and for rangeland, brush management. Your local NRCS office sets the ranking pools each year and can tell you which ones your operation falls into.


Programs for Kleberg County Operations

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

Brush management, rangeland health, coastal prairie, and wildlife habitat.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Brush management, prescribed burning, prescribed grazing, wildlife habitat management, and cover crops.

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 Brooks County, Texas, Jim Wells County, Texas, Kenedy County, Texas, and Nueces County, Texas. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in Kleberg 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

0.32
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.61
Peak season (Jun)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Kleberg 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.