Skagit County, Washington: USDA programs and conservation funding

882
Farms & Ranches
100K
Acres in Agriculture
113
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$15.1M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Milk, Flower Seeds, Cattle, Grain, Field Crops, Other
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Skagit County, Washington has 882 farms working 99,718 agricultural acres (average 113 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $15.1 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Milk, Flower Seeds, Cattle. Vegetation typically peaks in Aug, 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 Skagit County

Temperatures in Skagit County range from a January mean low of 30°F to a July mean high near 71°F. Annual precipitation averages 80.0 inches.

Skagit County ran 882 farms, 99,718 acres of farmland, and 10,986 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: milk, flower seeds, and cattle.


Quick Facts

RegionNorthwest Washington
Top CommoditiesVegetables, Dairy, Floriculture, Fruit & tree nuts, Berries, Cattle & calves

Current Conditions

Drought status: None (None).

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 Skagit County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

2005 E College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 428-7684

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 Skagit County Operations

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

Water management and soil conservation are priorities for intensive seed and bulb production systems. Salmon habitat restoration in the Skagit River system requires coordination between agricultural operations and environmental protection.

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 Chelan County, Washington, Island County, Washington, Okanogan County, Washington, San Juan County, Washington, Snohomish County, Washington, and Whatcom County, Washington. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in Skagit 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 DevelopmentCSPCRP

Vegetation Baseline

0.80
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.91
Peak season (Aug)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Skagit 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.