Rusk County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

1,309
Farms & Ranches
214K
Acres in Agriculture
164
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$27.4M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Foliage Plants, Flowering Plants, Potted, Equine
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Rusk County, Texas has 1,309 farms working 214,040 agricultural acres (average 164 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $27.4 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Foliage Plants. Vegetation typically peaks in Apr, defining the primary growing season.

Programs likely to fit Rusk County operations

With 1,309 farms averaging 164 acres, a cattle and foliage plants commodity base, vegetation peaking near Apr at 0.75 NDVI, these are the federal programs most worth a closer look. Every program is competitive — confirm fit with your local USDA office.

← Texas Farm Programs Guide

Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

Rusk County is located in the East Texas / Piney Woods region of Texas. Agriculture here is anchored by cattle & calves, with the county’s operations reflecting the broader character of East Texas / Piney Woods agriculture.

Quick Facts
RegionEast Texas / Piney Woods
Top CommoditiesPoultry, Cattle & calves, Vegetables, Horses, Deer, Fruit & tree nuts

Current Conditions

Drought status: Severe Drought (D2).

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 Rusk County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

1305 S Main St, Henderson, TX 75654

(903) 657-8221

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

4361 Loop 343 West, Ste B, Rusk, TX 75785

(903) 683-4669

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 Rusk County

Satellite vegetation data (2021–2025 average) shows forage in Rusk County greening up around March and peaking in April. The county carries about 113,781 acres of pastureland. Your county’s official normal grazing period is set by FSA and can differ from the satellite curve — confirm it with your local office, since it determines which drought weeks count toward LFP.

Farm Structure in Rusk County

The 2022 Census of Agriculture puts Rusk County at an average farm size of 164 acres, 29% small operations, 23% of producers aged 65 or older, and about 478 acres irrigated. Those numbers shape which programs fit — your FSA and NRCS staff can tell you which ranking pool your operation falls into.

What Tends to Fit in Rusk County

Given the operation mix in Rusk 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 Rusk County Operations

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

Poultry waste management, forest health, pasture improvement, and water quality.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Nutrient management (poultry), forest stand improvement, prescribed burning, cross-fencing, 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 Rusk County frequently work or lease ground across county lines. Neighboring counties include Cherokee County, Texas, Gregg County, Texas, Harrison County, Texas, Nacogdoches County, Texas, Panola County, Texas, and Shelby County, Texas. USDA programs and local NRCS priorities may differ from one jurisdiction to the next.

Your Next Steps in Rusk 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

0.74
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.75
Peak season (Apr)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Rusk 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.