McMullen County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

171
Farms & Ranches
581K
Acres in Agriculture
3,396
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$7.4M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Deer, Equine
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

McMullen County, Texas has 171 farms working 580,772 agricultural acres (average 3,396 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $7.4 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Deer, Equine. Vegetation typically peaks in May, 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 McMullen County

McMullen County is part of the Western Rio Grande Plain land resource region (MLRA 83B).

Based on 1991–2020 normals, McMullen County sees 24.7 in of rain, a 71.8°F mean annual temperature.

McMullen County carries 3,334 head of cattle (2022 Ag Census). Pastureland totals 475,897 acres. 171 farms operate in the county, averaging 3,396 acres each.


Quick Facts

RegionSouth Texas / Brush Country
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Deer, Horses

Current Conditions

Drought status: Exceptional Drought (D4). LFP-eligible for 52+ 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 McMullen County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

204 Elm St, Tilden, TX 78072

(361) 274-3221

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

200 E Bowie St Ste C, George West, TX 78022

(361) 449-1614

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 McMullen County Operations

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

Brush management, 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

Nearby Counties

Operators in McMullen County frequently work or lease ground across county lines. Neighboring counties include Atascosa County, Texas, Duval County, Texas, La Salle County, Texas, Live Oak County, Texas, and Webb County, Texas. USDA programs and local NRCS priorities may differ from one jurisdiction to the next.

Your Next Steps in McMullen 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 Management

Vegetation Baseline

0.39
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.47
Peak season (May)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for McMullen 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.