Young County, Texas: USDA programs and conservation funding

873
Farms & Ranches
483K
Acres in Agriculture
553
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$24.1M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Grain, Wheat, Field Crops, Other, Equine
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Young County, Texas has 873 farms working 483,160 agricultural acres (average 553 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $24.1 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Grain, Wheat. Vegetation typically peaks in May, defining the primary growing season.

Programs likely to fit Young County operations

With 873 farms averaging 553 acres, a cattle and grain commodity base, vegetation peaking near May at 0.66 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

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


Quick Facts

RegionRolling Plains / North Central Texas
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Wheat, Horses, Fruit & tree nuts, Goats, Sheep

Current Conditions

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

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 Young County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

1591 Hwy 380 Byp, Graham, TX 76450

(940) 549-0422

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 Young County

Young County reported 585 head of cattle across roughly 356,530 acres of pasture and rangeland. Satellite data for 2021–2025 shows April green-up and a May growth peak. Because LFP counts drought weeks only within the county’s normal grazing period, it is worth asking FSA what dates they use for Young County.


Farm Structure in Young County

Young County reports about 88 acres under irrigation. Farms average 553 acres, with about 18% classed as small operations. Around 28% of operators are 65 or older.


What Tends to Fit in Young County

Given the operation mix in Young 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 brush management for rangeland. 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 Young County Operations

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

Rangeland health, brush management, Possum Kingdom Lake watershed, and soil health.

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

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 Young County

Young County shares borders with Archer County, Texas, Baylor County, Texas, Jack County, Texas, Palo Pinto County, Texas, Stephens County, Texas, and Throckmorton 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 Young 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 ManagementCRPEQIP Fencing

Vegetation Baseline

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

Quick Tools for Young 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.