Madison County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

819
Farms & Ranches
215K
Acres in Agriculture
262
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$18.1M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Grain, Goats, Sheep, Goats
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Madison County, Texas has 819 farms working 214,931 agricultural acres (average 262 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $18.1 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Grain, Goats. 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

About Madison County

The county falls within the Texas Claypan Area, Southern Part (MLRA 87A) land resource region.

Rainfall averages 44.3 inches per year. January lows average around 38°F while July highs reach about 95°F.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 819 farms in Madison County, operating across 214,931 acres of farmland. The average farm spans 262 acres. Top commodities include cattle, goats, and sheep.


Quick Facts

RegionEast Central Texas
Top CommoditiesPoultry, Cattle & calves, Goats, Sheep, Floriculture, Fruit & tree nuts

Current Conditions

Drought status: Severe Drought (D2). LFP-eligible for 12+ 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 Madison County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

120 S Elm St Ste 110, Madisonville, TX 77864

(936) 348-2173

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

1030 S 4th St, Crockett, TX 75835

(936) 544-3857

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 Madison County Operations

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

Pasture improvement, forest health, water quality, and poultry litter management.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Nutrient management, cross-fencing, prescribed grazing, forest stand improvement, and prescribed burning.

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

Adjacent Counties

Counties bordering Madison County: Brazos County, Texas, Grimes County, Texas, Houston County, Texas, Leon County, Texas, Robertson County, Texas, and Walker County, Texas. Each runs its own Local Working Group and may prioritize different conservation practices.

Your Next Steps in Madison 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 Fencing

Vegetation Baseline

0.69
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.69
Peak season (Apr)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Madison 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.