Mason County, Washington: USDA programs and conservation funding

368
Farms & Ranches
37K
Acres in Agriculture
100
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$858K
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cut Christmas Trees, Cut Christmas Trees & Short Term Woody Trees, Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Equine
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Mason County, Washington has 368 farms working 36,865 agricultural acres (average 100 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $0.9 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cut Christmas Trees, Cut Christmas Trees & Short Term Woody Trees, Cattle. Vegetation typically peaks in Sep, 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

About Mason County

Mason County is part of the Willamette and Puget Sound Valleys land resource region (MLRA 2).

Based on 1991–2020 normals, Mason County sees 91.9 in of rain, a 49.2°F mean annual temperature.

Mason County carries 429 head of cattle (2022 Ag Census). Pastureland totals 3,007 acres. 368 farms operate in the county, averaging 100 acres each.


Quick Facts

RegionOlympic Peninsula
Top CommoditiesVegetables, Cattle & calves, Fruit & tree nuts, Poultry, Berries, Horses

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 Mason County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

500 Pacific Ave, Suite 301, Bremerton, WA 98337

(360) 813-9709

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

1011 E Main Ave Suite 306, Puyallup, WA 98372

(253) 845-9272

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 Mason County Operations

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

Marine water quality protection programs prevent agricultural runoff from impacting shellfish growing areas and salmon habitat. Forest interface management helps farmers maintain operations adjacent to extensive timber lands and wildlife areas.

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

Nearby Counties

Operators in Mason County frequently work or lease ground across county lines. Neighboring counties include Grays Harbor County, Washington, Jefferson County, Washington, Kitsap County, Washington, Pierce County, Washington, and Thurston County, Washington. USDA programs and local NRCS priorities may differ from one jurisdiction to the next.

Your Next Steps in Mason 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 Prescribed GrazingCSPEQIP Water Development

Vegetation Baseline

0.82
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.87
Peak season (Sep)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Mason 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.