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Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Jefferson County
Jefferson County sits within the Eastern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and Upper Michigan Drift Plain (MLRA 95) region.
Temperatures in Jefferson County range from a January mean low of 12°F to a July mean high near 83°F. Annual precipitation averages 36.1 inches. Expect about 244 frost-free days.
Jefferson County ran 955 farms, 191,783 acres of farmland, and 13,545 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: milk, corn, and soybeans.
Quick Facts
| Region | Southeast Wisconsin |
| Top Commodities | Poultry, Dairy, Corn, Soybeans, Cattle & calves, Vegetables |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Abnormally Dry (D0) — monitor conditions.
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 Jefferson County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
134 W Rockwell St, Jefferson, WI 53549
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.
Farm Structure in Jefferson County
Farms in Jefferson County average 201 acres, and about 28% are small operations. Roughly 23% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 8,844 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Jefferson County
Given the operation mix in Jefferson County, the practices that most often come up are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing for grazing operations; waste storage, nutrient management, and Dairy Margin Coverage for dairies; and cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election for row-crop ground. Whether any of them scores well depends on your county's Local Working Group priorities, which NRCS can walk you through before you apply.
Programs for Jefferson County Operations
Based on Jefferson County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
Nutrient management programs are prioritized to protect water quality in the Rock River watershed. Cover crop incentives help reduce soil erosion and improve soil health on cash crop 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
Bordering Counties
If your operation extends into or you compare conditions against adjacent counties, see Dane County, Wisconsin, Dodge County, Wisconsin, Rock County, Wisconsin, Walworth County, Wisconsin, and Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Jefferson County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Wisconsin guide: Wisconsin Farm Programs Guide
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