Salt Lake County, Utah: USDA programs and conservation funding

393
Farms & Ranches
50K
Acres in Agriculture
126
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$584K
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Specialty Animals, Other, Field Crops, Other, Equine, Cut Flowers & Cut Cultivated Greens
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Salt Lake County, Utah has 393 farms working 49,566 agricultural acres (average 126 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $0.6 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Specialty Animals, Other, Field Crops, Other. 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

About Salt Lake County

The growing season in Salt Lake County spans roughly 275 frost-free days. Rainfall averages 22.2 inches per year. January lows average around 21°F while July highs reach about 87°F.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 393 farms in Salt Lake County, operating across 49,566 acres of farmland. The average farm spans 126 acres. Top commodities include cattle, equine, and cut flowers & cut cultivated greens.


Quick Facts

RegionNorthern Utah
Top CommoditiesFloriculture, Vegetables, Cattle & calves, Horses, Fruit & tree nuts, Poultry

Current Conditions

Drought status: Severe Drought (D2). LFP-eligible for 9+ 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 Salt Lake County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

185 N Main St, Tooele, UT 84074

(435) 882-2276

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 Salt Lake County Operations

Based on Salt Lake County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:

EQIP programs focus on urban agriculture initiatives and small-scale conservation practices in the metropolitan environment. Beginning Farmer programs support new operators establishing specialty crop production and direct-market operations.

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

Adjacent Counties

Counties bordering Salt Lake County: Davis County, Utah, Morgan County, Utah, Summit County, Utah, Tooele County, Utah, Utah County, Utah, and Wasatch County, Utah. Each runs its own Local Working Group and may prioritize different conservation practices.

Your Next Steps in Salt Lake County

  1. Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
  2. Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
  3. Read the Utah guide: Utah Farm Programs Guide

Part of Farmer's Navigator. Built by ranchers. Every guide on this site is free.

Vegetation Baseline

0.47
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.59
Peak season (May)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Salt Lake 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.