FARMGRANT COUNTY PROFILE · PUBLIC USDA DATA

San Mateo County, California

$118,714 in USDA farm subsidies to county recipients (2024)

Underserved Score: 60/100

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USDA Farm Subsidies — San Mateo County

$118,714 in USDA farm subsidies to San Mateo County recipients (2024).

Sum of payments to 8 recipients in this county, EWG Farm Subsidy Database (totalfarm), 2024 single year.

Program Breakdown (selected programs, EWG/USDA 2024)

Disaster Payments $118,713

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

$147,833 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 The Kosek Family 1999 Trust 12/21/99 $42,453
2 Pie Ranch Non-profit $37,701
3 Mary Cozzolino - Mary Alice Cozzolino Trust $20,343
4 D.M. $14,381
5 D.E. $2,076
6 J.S.C. $1,114
7 V.F.J. $527
8 R.D. $119

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

About Farming in San Mateo County

One thing that sets San Mateo County apart is how its USDA money flows — recorded USDA payments here are concentrated — the top five recipients account for roughly 99% of the county's recorded farm-subsidy dollars (EWG, totalfarm, 2024). Worth noting too: farmland is valued near $12,311 an acre (USDA NASS, 2022 Census), among the higher-value cropland in the country.

San Mateo County has roughly 250 farms working about 44,885 acres of land in farms (USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture), averaging ~180 acres per farm.

In San Mateo County, irrigated cropland rents for roughly $712/acre and farmland is valued near $12,311/acre (USDA NASS).

San Mateo County is predominantly hay country — a specialty county. Its leading harvested crops are hay (~26% of harvested cropland), vegetables (~22% of harvested cropland), and orchards & fruit (~5% of harvested cropland) (USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture).

Cattle run at roughly 6 head per 100 farmland acres (about 1,430 head of beef cows in inventory) here (USDA NASS, 2022 Census).

Recorded payments in San Mateo County are fairly concentrated: the top 5 recipients accounted for about 99% of the county's recorded USDA farm-subsidy dollars across 8 recipients (EWG Farm Subsidy Database, totalfarm, 2024). A descriptive split of recorded payments, not a measure of need.

Among the nearby California counties listed below, San Mateo County's Underserved Score (60/100) is higher (less USDA support per acre) than the local average (~46/100), 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 San Mateo 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 CA counties — often reflects pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land, not unclaimed funding.; Above-average beginning producers (48 per 100 farms).

Local USDA Offices for San Mateo County

Your local USDA service center is where farms in San Mateo 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
Monterey County Farm Service Agency
744 La Guardia St Bldg A, Salinas, CA
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Half Moon Bay Lpo
80 Stone Pine Road, Suite 100, Half Moon Bay, CA

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

60 out of 100
Moderately Underserved
#22 of 55 most underserved in California (62nd pctile)
70th national percentile
USDA Support Gap? 19.9/25
Producer Priority? 2.2/25
Insurance Coverage Gap? 18.0/25
What drives this score
  • Receives less USDA $/acre than most CA counties — often reflects pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land, not unclaimed funding.
  • Above-average beginning producers (48 per 100 farms)
  • Elevated women-producer presence (81 per 100 farms)
  • Lower insured-policy density than typical (0.0 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 San Mateo 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, San Mateo County received about $2.64 per acre of farmland in USDA subsidies. That is less USDA $/acre than most CA counties — often a sign of pasture, specialty, or non-commodity land, not unclaimed funding. That ranks #2,089 of 3,032 U.S. counties for USDA dollars per farmland acre.

2024 USDA subsidy $ (EWG totalfarm) ÷ land-in-farms acres (44,885 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 60).

See how San Mateo County ranks against all U.S. counties →

County Land Economics & Demographics

Population
726,353
(2023, USDA ERS)
Median Income
$151,004
(USDA ERS)
Poverty Rate
7.3%
(USDA ERS)
Unemployment
3.0%
(USDA ERS)
Cropland Rent
$712/ac
(USDA NASS, irrig.)
Land Value
$12,311/ac
(USDA NASS, 2022 Census)
Insurance Policies
8
(USDA RMA)
Acres Insured
1,262
(USDA RMA)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much USDA funding does San Mateo County receive?

San Mateo County recipients received about $118,714 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 San Mateo County?

In San Mateo County — where hay leads the harvested cropland — farmers may be eligible for conservation (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; 60 for San Mateo County — Moderately 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 California

Could your farm benefit?

Farms in San Mateo 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.