Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Carbon County
Temperatures in Carbon County range from a January mean low of 14°F to a July mean high near 84°F. Annual precipitation averages 14.6 inches. Expect about 214 frost-free days.
Carbon County ran 330 farms, 204,872 acres of farmland, and 5,145 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, sheep, and equine.
Quick Facts
| Region | East Central Utah |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Sheep, Horses, Fruit & tree nuts, Vegetables, Floriculture |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Extreme Drought (D3). LFP-eligible for 52+ weeks — check FSA for livestock forage assistance.
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 Carbon County.
NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)
599 West Price River Drive, Price, UT 84501
FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)
1090 N Des-Bee-Dove Rd, Castle Dale, UT 84513
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 Carbon County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 65% of farmland in Carbon County, about 133,457 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around February and forage peaks in November. FSA sets the county’s normal grazing period separately; ask your office to confirm it, because LFP counts only the drought weeks that fall inside it.
Farm Structure in Carbon County
Farms in Carbon County average 621 acres, and about 52% are small operations. Roughly 27% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 8,489 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Carbon County
Carbon County's top commodities in the 2022 Census were cattle, sheep, and equine. That mix shapes which conservation practices tend to be worth asking about — for grazing operations, prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing; for row-crop ground, cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election; and for rangeland, brush management. Your local NRCS office sets the ranking pools each year and can tell you which ones your operation falls into.
Programs for Carbon County Operations
Based on Carbon County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
EQIP focuses on water conservation and range improvements in the arid environment with limited irrigation water. Livestock Feed Program assistance is critical during drought years when rangeland forage production is severely limited.
Not sure which programs fit? Run our free eligibility screener. Two minutes, personalized action packet.
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
Bordering Counties
If your operation extends into or you compare conditions against adjacent counties, see Duchesne County, Utah, Emery County, Utah, Sanpete County, Utah, Uintah County, Utah, and Utah County, Utah. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Carbon County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Utah guide: Utah Farm Programs Guide
Part of Farmer's Navigator. Built by ranchers. Every guide on this site is free.