FARMGRANT COUNTY PROFILE · PUBLIC USDA DATA

Berkshire County, Massachusetts

$438,799 in USDA farm subsidies to county recipients (2025)

Underserved Score: 72/100

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USDA Farm Subsidies — Berkshire County

$438,799 in USDA farm subsidies to Berkshire County recipients (2025).

Sum of payments to 48 recipients in this county, EWG Farm Subsidy Database (totalfarm), 2025 single year.

Program Breakdown (selected programs, EWG/USDA 2025)

Specialty Crop Marketing Assistance (MASC, one-time) $294,471
Emergency Commodity Assistance (ECAP, one-time) $135,992
Disaster Payments $8,334
Supplemental Disaster Relief (SDRP, one-time, included in Disaster Payments) $8,334

Selected USDA programs recorded in this county for 2025, each shown as its own figure. This is not a breakdown of the headline total above and the rows are not meant to be added up: the list is not exhaustive, and where one program sits inside another the same dollars appear on two lines, so a total of these rows can come out higher than the headline. Source: EWG Farm Subsidy Database / USDA, 2025. SDRP is part of the Disaster Payments figure, not additional to it. Emergency Commodity Assistance, Specialty Crop Marketing Assistance, Supplemental Disaster Relief are one-time programs funded by the American Relief Act, 2025.

Top Subsidy Recipients

# Recipient 2025 Total
1 C.W.D.J.F.A.F. $53,700
2 Harrison Hills Farm LLC $45,350
3 Pine Island Farm Partnership $38,804
4 Maple Shade Farm Inc $36,097
5 Turner Farms Inc $20,761
6 Windy Hill Farm Inc $18,619
7 Ioka Valley Farm LLC $18,157
8 E.K. $17,747
9 Jim Galusha Contracting Inc. $17,646
10 Caretaker Farm LLC $16,027

Top recipients by EWG totalfarm (2025). These named payments sum toward the headline total above. Source: EWG Farm Subsidy Database.

About Farming in Berkshire County

On the support axis, Berkshire County leans underserved: by USDA dollars per farmland acre, Berkshire County sits toward the less-supported end of Massachusetts counties (Underserved Score 72/100) — often a marker of pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land rather than unclaimed funding. Set against that, farmland is valued near $8,606 an acre (USDA NASS, 2022 Census), among the higher-value cropland in the country.

Berkshire County has roughly 471 farms working about 71,860 acres of land in farms (USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture), averaging ~153 acres per farm.

In Berkshire County, irrigated cropland rents for roughly $150/acre and farmland is valued near $8,606/acre (USDA NASS).

Berkshire County is predominantly hay country — a forage county. Its leading harvested crops are hay (~46% of harvested cropland), vegetables (~4% of harvested cropland), and corn (~3% of harvested cropland) (USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture).

Cattle run at roughly 9 head per 100 farmland acres (about 3,667 head of beef cows in inventory) here (USDA NASS, 2022 Census).

Recorded payments in Berkshire County are fairly concentrated: the top 5 recipients accounted for about 44% of the county's recorded USDA farm-subsidy dollars across 48 recipients (EWG Farm Subsidy Database, totalfarm, 2025). A descriptive split of recorded payments, not a measure of need.

Among the nearby Massachusetts counties listed below, Berkshire County's Underserved Score (72/100) is higher (less USDA support per acre) than the local average (~53/100), ranking above 5 of 5 of them (higher = historically less USDA $/acre than peers).

With grazing and forage a large part of the land use in Berkshire 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 MA counties — often reflects pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land, not unclaimed funding.; Notable veteran population (7.1%).

Local USDA Offices for Berkshire County

Your local USDA service center is where farms in Berkshire 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
Berkshire County Farm Service Agency
Federal Bldg 78 Center St, Pittsfield, MA
(413) 443-1776
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Pittsfield Service Center
Federal Bldg 78 Center St, Pittsfield, MA
(413) 443-1776

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

72 out of 100
Underserved
#1 of 11 most underserved in Massachusetts (100th pctile)
89th national percentile
USDA Support Gap? 24.1/25
Producer Priority? 3.1/25
Insurance Coverage Gap? 21.6/25
What drives this score
  • Receives less USDA $/acre than most MA counties — often reflects pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land, not unclaimed funding.
  • Notable veteran population (7.1%)
  • Above-median insured loss ratio (2.69).
  • Lower insured-policy density than typical (0.1 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 Berkshire 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 veteran producers

This county has a notable veteran-producer population. These USDA programs carry veteran priority — 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, Berkshire County received about $6.11 per acre of farmland in USDA subsidies. That is less USDA $/acre than most MA counties — often a sign of pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land, not unclaimed funding. That ranks #2,410 of 3,032 U.S. counties for USDA dollars per farmland acre.

2025 USDA subsidy $ (EWG totalfarm) ÷ land-in-farms acres (71,860 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 72).

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

County Land Economics & Demographics

Population
126,818
(2023, USDA ERS)
Median Income
$74,535
(USDA ERS)
Poverty Rate
12.5%
(USDA ERS)
Unemployment
3.6%
(USDA ERS)
Cropland Rent
$150/ac
(USDA NASS, irrig.)
Land Value
$8,606/ac
(USDA NASS, 2022 Census)
Insurance Policies
36
(USDA RMA)
Acres Insured
3,549
(USDA RMA)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much USDA funding does Berkshire County receive?

Berkshire County recipients received about $438,799 in USDA farm subsidies in 2025, 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 Berkshire County?

With grazing and forage prominent in Berkshire County, conservation and working-lands programs (EQIP, CSP, grassland CRP) and disaster/livestock assistance may be especially relevant, alongside 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; 72 for Berkshire 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 Massachusetts

Programs your farm could qualify for

Farms in Berkshire 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 August 27, 2026. Subsidy figures: USDA/EWG 2025 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.