Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
Live Oak County is located in the South Texas / Brush Country region of Texas. Agriculture here is anchored by cattle & calves, with the county’s operations reflecting the broader character of South Texas / Brush Country agriculture.
Quick Facts
| Region | South Texas / Brush Country |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Deer, Horses, Corn, Goats, Sheep |
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 Live Oak County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
200 E Bowie St Ste C, George West, TX 78022
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 Live Oak County
Live Oak County reported 3,069 head of cattle across roughly 255,289 acres of pasture and rangeland. Satellite data for 2021–2025 shows April green-up and a April 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 Live Oak County.
Farm Structure in Live Oak County
Irrigation covers about 1% of farmland in Live Oak County, roughly 2,385 acres. Farms average 522 acres, with about 16% classed as small operations. Around 29% of operators are 65 or older.
What Tends to Fit in Live Oak County
Given the operation mix in Live Oak County, the practices that most often come up are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing for grazing operations; cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election for row-crop ground; 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 Live Oak County Operations
Based on the agricultural profile of Live Oak County, these programs are most likely to be relevant:
Brush management, rangeland health, wildlife habitat, and livestock water.
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 Live Oak County
Live Oak County shares borders with Atascosa County, Texas, Bee County, Texas, Duval County, Texas, Jim Wells County, Texas, Karnes County, Texas, and McMullen 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 Live Oak County
- Run the eligibility screener to see which programs fit your operation: Free Screener
- Find your local USDA Service Center and call to schedule a meeting: Service Center Locator
- Read the full Texas guide for statewide program details, deadlines, and office contacts: Texas Farm Programs Guide
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