FARMGRANT COUNTY PROFILE · PUBLIC USDA DATA

Thomas County, Nebraska

$1.8M in USDA farm subsidies to county recipients (2024)

Underserved Score: 76/100

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USDA Farm Subsidies — Thomas County

$1.8M in USDA farm subsidies to Thomas County recipients (2024).

Sum of payments to 73 recipients in this county, EWG Farm Subsidy Database (totalfarm), 2024 single year.

Program Breakdown (selected programs, EWG/USDA 2024)

Disaster Payments $1.8M
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) $6,711

Selected program components shown individually. These are separate EWG/USDA pulls and are not additive to the headline subsidy total — no combined "total" is shown. Source: EWG Farm Subsidy Database / USDA, 2024.

Crop Insurance Premium Subsidy

$2.1M in federal crop-insurance premium subsidy (RMA, 2024).

This is a separate program total (premium-subsidy dollars only) — it is not part of the subsidy headline above and is shown on its own. Source: USDA RMA via EWG, 2024.

Top Subsidy Recipients

# Recipient 2024 Total
1 7j Land & Cattle LLC $206,066
2 Tlc Land & Cattle LLC $161,528
3 S.L.S. $124,722
4 Hall & Sons Cattle Co $122,168
5 A L Ranch LLC $107,025
6 Finney Cattle Co $106,290
7 S.A.M. $98,217
8 W.V.L. $97,707
9 Abiotic Land Co LLC $95,697
10 M.N.M.A.M.L.N.F.T. $86,970

Top recipients by EWG totalfarm (2024). These named payments sum toward the headline total above. Source: EWG Farm Subsidy Database.

About Farming in Thomas County

The shape of farming in Thomas County is distinctive: farms here are large on average — about 4,119 acres apiece across roughly 105 operations (USDA NASS, 2022 Census). Past farm size, by USDA dollars per farmland acre, Thomas County sits toward the less-supported end of Nebraska counties (Underserved Score 76/100) — often a marker of pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land rather than unclaimed funding.

Thomas County has roughly 105 farms working about 432,498 acres of land in farms (USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture), averaging ~4,119 acres per farm.

In Thomas County, farmland is valued near $1,065/acre (USDA NASS).

Cattle run at roughly 8 head per 100 farmland acres (about 20,192 head of beef cows in inventory) here (USDA NASS, 2022 Census).

Recorded payments in Thomas County are fairly concentrated: the top 5 recipients accounted for about 41% of the county's recorded USDA farm-subsidy dollars across 73 recipients (EWG Farm Subsidy Database, totalfarm, 2024). A descriptive split of recorded payments, not a measure of need.

Among the nearby Nebraska counties listed below, Thomas County's Underserved Score (76/100) is higher (less USDA support per acre) than the local average (~41/100), ranking above 5 of 6 of them (higher = historically less USDA $/acre than peers).

With grazing and forage a large part of the land use in Thomas County, conservation and grazing-oriented USDA programs — such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and grassland options under CRP — may be worth asking your local NRCS office about. This is signposting from county land-use patterns, not an eligibility determination.

Local signals from public data: Receives less USDA $/acre than most NE counties — often reflects pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land, not unclaimed funding.; Rural (non-metro) county.

Local USDA Offices for Thomas County

Your local USDA service center is where farms in Thomas County apply for FSA and NRCS programs and get free, in-person help — they handle program sign-ups, conservation plans, and loan applications.

Farm Service Agency
Valentine Farm Service Agency
518 W Highway 20, Valentine, NE
(402) 376-1712
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Thedford Service Center
39311 Highway 2, Thedford, NE
(308) 645-2621

Source: USDA Service Center locator (Farmers.gov). Office details can change — confirm current hours and appointments via farmers.gov/service-center-locator.

FarmGrant Underserved Score

76 out of 100
Underserved
#9 of 93 most underserved in Nebraska (91st pctile)
93rd national percentile
USDA Support Gap? 21.4/25
Producer Priority? 22.0/25
Insurance Coverage Gap? 12.0/25
What drives this score
  • Receives less USDA $/acre than most NE counties — often reflects pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land, not unclaimed funding.
  • Rural (non-metro) county
  • Farming-dependent county economy
  • Above-average beginning producers (48 per 100 farms)
  • Elevated women-producer presence (73 per 100 farms)
  • Lower insured-policy density than typical (0.3 policies/farm).

The Underserved Score (0–100) is a descriptive, relative measure of how little USDA farm-program support this county has historically received per acre compared with other counties — built from up to three public-data components (USDA support per acre, producer-priority composition, and crop-insurance coverage). Lower USDA $/acre often reflects pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land use, not unclaimed funding. This is not a measure of need, deservedness, or eligibility, and it does not predict that any farm will receive funding. Sources: USDA NASS, RMA, ERS, and EWG subsidy records.

Programs to look at in Thomas County

These are USDA programs commonly relevant to counties like this one, based on public county patterns. They are not a determination that you qualify — you may be eligible; check with your local FSA or NRCS office.

Conservation programs most farms can use

Counties receiving below-average USDA dollars per acre are often under-enrolled in conservation programs open to most land. You may be eligible — these are worth asking your NRCS or FSA office about.

CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) →EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) →
Priority for beginning producers

This county has a high share of beginning producers per 100 farms. These USDA programs give beginning producers priority scoring, set-asides, or higher cost-share — if that's you, they're worth a look.

FSA Microloan →FSA Direct Operating Loan →
Crop insurance & NAP coverage

This county shows lower-than-typical crop-insurance participation. These risk-protection programs are commonly relevant — coverage and eligibility depend on your operation.

Federal Crop Insurance →
Commodity support (if you grow program crops)

If you grow covered program crops, these commodity-support programs may apply. Eligibility depends on your crops and base acres — check with your FSA office.

ARC-CO (Agriculture Risk Coverage — County) →
See the full set of USDA programs you could qualify for → free Subsidy Finder

USDA Funding Per Acre

Historically, Thomas County received about $4.11 per acre of farmland in USDA subsidies. That is less USDA $/acre than most NE counties — often a sign of pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land, not unclaimed funding. That ranks #1,710 of 3,032 U.S. counties for USDA dollars per farmland acre.

2024 USDA subsidy $ (EWG totalfarm) ÷ land-in-farms acres (432,498 acres, USDA NASS 2022 Census). A descriptive county-wide statistic — not a prediction of what any individual farm received or will receive. This is the same axis as the Underserved Score above (less $/acre → higher Underserved Score, currently 76).

See how Thomas County ranks against all U.S. counties →

County Land Economics & Demographics

Population
677
(2023, USDA ERS)
Median Income
$56,844
(USDA ERS)
Poverty Rate
13.0%
(USDA ERS)
Unemployment
3.4%
(USDA ERS)
Land Value
$1,065/ac
(USDA NASS, 2022 Census)
Insurance Policies
32
(USDA RMA)
Acres Insured
139,763
(USDA RMA)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much USDA funding does Thomas County receive?

Thomas County recipients received about $1.8M in USDA farm subsidies in 2024, per the EWG Farm Subsidy Database (totalfarm). This is a single-year county total of recorded payments, not a forecast of future funding.

What USDA programs are available to farmers in Thomas County?

Farmers may be eligible for a range of USDA programs — conservation (e.g. CRP, EQIP), commodity support (ARC/PLC), disaster assistance, federal crop insurance, and FSA loans. Eligibility depends on your farm; use the free Subsidy Finder to see programs you could qualify for, then confirm with your local FSA or NRCS office.

How is the FarmGrant Underserved Score calculated?

The Underserved Score (0–100; 76 for Thomas County — Underserved) is a descriptive, relative measure of how little USDA farm-program support this county has historically received per acre compared with other counties, built from three public-data components — USDA support per acre, producer-priority composition, and crop-insurance coverage (USDA NASS, RMA, ERS, and EWG records). Lower USDA support per acre often reflects pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land use rather than unclaimed funding. It is not a measure of need or eligibility and does not predict that any farm will receive funding.

Nearby Counties in Nebraska

Could your farm benefit?

Farms in Thomas County may qualify for USDA programs based on crop, conservation, and disaster activity. Run the free Subsidy Finder to see which programs you could qualify for, then prep your local USDA office visit.

Find Your Programs Prep USDA Visit Deadlines

Data as of June 08, 2026. Subsidy figures: USDA/EWG 2024 release. Farmland acres: USDA NASS 2022 Census. Underserved Score refreshed monthly. Each figure above carries its own data year; this page is never fresher than its oldest input.