Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Matagorda County
Temperatures in Matagorda County range from a January mean low of 45°F to a July mean high near 91°F. Annual precipitation averages 45.4 inches.
Matagorda County ran 814 farms, 545,730 acres of farmland, and 52,067 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: sod, cattle, and rice.
Quick Facts
| Region | Mid-Coast / Gulf Plains |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Rice, Cotton, Corn, Grain sorghum, Horses |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Moderate Drought (D1) — watch for worsening; LFP not currently triggered.
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 Matagorda County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
1006 Avenue F, Bay City, TX 77414
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 Matagorda County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 63% of farmland in Matagorda County, about 345,130 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around March 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 Matagorda County
Farms in Matagorda County average 670 acres, and about 24% are small operations. Roughly 28% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 36,184 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Matagorda County
Given the operation mix in Matagorda 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 high tunnels, irrigation efficiency, and NAP coverage for specialty-crop acres. 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 Matagorda County Operations
Based on the agricultural profile of Matagorda County, these programs are most likely to be relevant:
Rice field water management, coastal prairie, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
Commonly funded practices in this area: Water management on rice, nutrient management, 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 Brazoria County, Texas, Calhoun County, Texas, Jackson County, Texas, and Wharton County, Texas. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Matagorda 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
Built by ranchers who’ve been through it. Every guide on this site is free.