Palo Pinto County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

1,147
Farms & Ranches
608K
Acres in Agriculture
530
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$40.2M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Equine, Equine, Equine
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Palo Pinto County, Texas has 1,147 farms working 608,448 agricultural acres (average 530 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $40.2 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Equine. Vegetation typically peaks in Apr, defining the primary growing season.

← Texas Farm Programs Guide

Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

Palo Pinto County is located in the North Central Texas / Cross Timbers region of Texas. Agriculture here is anchored by cattle & calves, with the county’s operations reflecting the broader character of North Central Texas / Cross Timbers agriculture.


Quick Facts

RegionNorth Central Texas / Cross Timbers
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Horses, Fruit & tree nuts, Goats, Rabbits, Sheep

Current Conditions

Drought status: Abnormally Dry (D0) — monitor conditions.

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 Palo Pinto County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

415 SW 1st, Mineral Wells, TX 76067

(940) 325-4828

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

604 N Main St, Weatherford, TX 76086

(817) 594-4672

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 Palo Pinto County Operations

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

Rangeland improvement, brush management, and Possum Kingdom Lake watershed.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Brush management, cross-fencing, prescribed grazing, livestock water development, 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

Counties Bordering Palo Pinto County

Palo Pinto County shares borders with Eastland County, Texas, Erath County, Texas, Hood County, Texas, Jack County, Texas, Parker County, Texas, and Stephens 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 Palo Pinto 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

0.61
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.66
Peak season (Apr)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Palo Pinto 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.