Real County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

212
Farms & Ranches
291K
Acres in Agriculture
1,375
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$1.2M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Specialty Animals, Other, Goats, Sheep, Field Crops, Other
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Real County, Texas has 212 farms working 291,417 agricultural acres (average 1,375 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $1.2 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Specialty Animals, Other, Goats. Vegetation typically peaks in Oct, 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

Real County is located in the Edwards Plateau / Hill Country region of Texas. Agriculture here is anchored by cattle & calves, with the county’s operations reflecting the broader character of Edwards Plateau / Hill Country agriculture.


Quick Facts

RegionEdwards Plateau / Hill Country
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Goats, Sheep, Fruit & tree nuts, Honey, Deer

Current Conditions

Drought status: Moderate Drought (D1) — watch for worsening; LFP not currently triggered.

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 Real County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

100 S. Sweeten St, Rocksprings, TX 78880

(830) 683-2187

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

103 Weeping Willow, Uvalde, TX 78801

(830) 278-2014

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 Real County Operations

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

Rangeland health, cedar management, Nueces River headwaters protection, and wildlife habitat.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Brush management (cedar), prescribed burning, livestock water development, prescribed grazing, and wildlife habitat management.

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 Real County

Real County shares borders with Bandera County, Texas, Edwards County, Texas, Kerr County, Texas, and Uvalde 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 Real 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 FencingEQIP Prescribed GrazingCSPEQIP Water DevelopmentEQIP Brush Management

Vegetation Baseline

0.63
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.72
Peak season (Oct)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Real 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.