Waller County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

1,545
Farms & Ranches
212K
Acres in Agriculture
137
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$16.5M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Grain, Rice, Field Crops, Other, Equine
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Waller County, Texas has 1,545 farms working 211,993 agricultural acres (average 137 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $16.5 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Grain, Rice. 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

Waller County is located in the Gulf Coast Prairie / Southeast Texas region of Texas. Agriculture here is anchored by cattle & calves, with the county’s operations reflecting the broader character of Gulf Coast Prairie / Southeast Texas agriculture.


Quick Facts

RegionGulf Coast Prairie / Southeast Texas
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Rice, Vegetables, Horses, Dairy, Corn

Current Conditions

Drought status: Extreme Drought (D3). LFP-eligible for 23+ 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 Waller County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

519 9th St, Hempstead, TX 77445

(979) 826-2448

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

10808 Huffmeister Rd, Houston, TX 77065

(281) 469-7856

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 Waller County Operations

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

Pasture improvement, water quality, and flood mitigation.

Commonly funded practices in this area: Cross-fencing, prescribed grazing, water management, and nutrient 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 Waller County

Waller County shares borders with Austin County, Texas, Fort Bend County, Texas, Grimes County, Texas, Harris County, Texas, Montgomery County, Texas, and Washington 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 Waller 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

0.68
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.72
Peak season (May)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Waller 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.