King County, Washington: USDA programs and conservation funding

1,604
Farms & Ranches
46K
Acres in Agriculture
29
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$5.3M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Milk, Sod, Cattle, Foliage Plants, Cut Flowers & Cut Cultivated Greens
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

King County, Washington has 1,604 farms working 46,261 agricultural acres (average 29 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $5.3 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Milk, Sod, Cattle. Vegetation typically peaks in Aug, defining the primary growing season.

← Washington Farm Programs Guide

Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

From Puget Sound shores to Cascade Mountain peaks over 6,000 feet, this county encompasses diverse terrain including river valleys, plateaus, and urban areas. The Green, White, and Snoqualmie River valleys provide prime agricultural land.

Urban agriculture and small farms produce vegetables, berries, and specialty crops for local markets despite intense development pressure. Remaining dairy operations and livestock farms concentrate in eastern rural areas away from metropolitan development.


Quick Facts

RegionPuget Sound
Top CommoditiesDairy, Floriculture, Vegetables, Cattle & calves, Fruit & tree nuts, Berries

Current Conditions

Drought status: Abnormally Dry (D0) — monitor conditions.

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 King County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

941 Powell Ave SW Ste 102, Renton, WA 98057

(253) 845-9272

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

528 91st Ave NE Ste B, Lake Stevens, WA 98258

(425) 334-2828

This county also has 1 additional FSA office. View all offices

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 King County Operations

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

Farmland preservation programs protect remaining agricultural land from urban development pressures in this rapidly growing metropolitan area. Water quality protection practices prevent agricultural runoff into Puget Sound and tributary watersheds.

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

Counties Bordering King County

King County shares borders with Chelan County, Washington, Kitsap County, Washington, Kittitas County, Washington, Pierce County, Washington, Snohomish County, Washington, and Yakima County, Washington. 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 King County

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

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

Related program guides

EQIP FencingEQIP Water Development

Vegetation Baseline

0.72
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.90
Peak season (Aug)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for King 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.