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Benton County, Minnesota

Farm Programs & Local Resources

Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error

Rolling glacial hills with sandy loam soils and scattered wetlands along the Mississippi River corridor. The Sauk Rapids area features river terraces and floodplains with productive agricultural soils.

Diversified farming with corn, soybeans, and dairy operations forming the agricultural base. Small grain production and hay farming support both dairy and beef cattle enterprises throughout the county.

Quick Facts
RegionCentral Minnesota
Top CommoditiesDairy, Poultry, Corn, Vegetables, Cattle & calves, Soybeans
Farms & Ranches~410 (approx.)
Agricultural Land~130,000 acres
Average Farm Size~196 acres

Find Your Local USDA Offices

Your nearest USDA Service Center houses both NRCS and FSA under one roof.

Find your Service Center:

→ USDA Service Center Locator

Search for "Benton County" to find your local NRCS and FSA offices.

What to do when you call: Ask for a conservation planner (EQIP/CSP) or loan officer (FSA). Mention your operation type and planned improvements.

Programs for Benton County Operations

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

Conservation programs focus on soil health improvement and water quality protection in the Mississippi River watershed. EQIP funding commonly supports dairy facility improvements and cropland conservation practices.

Not sure which programs fit? Run our free eligibility screener — 2 minutes, personalized action packet.

Local Conservation Priorities

EQIP applications addressing local priorities score higher in ranking.

We don't have Benton County's specific LWG priorities yet.

Ask your local NRCS office: "What are the priority resource concerns in Benton County?"

Your Next Steps in Benton County

  1. Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
  2. Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
  3. Read the Minnesota guide: Minnesota Farm Programs Guide

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