Rice County, Minnesota

Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

Rice County features gently rolling terrain with fertile prairie soils and scattered woodlands. The Cannon River flows through the county, and numerous small lakes dot the agricultural landscape.

Diversified agriculture includes corn, soybeans, and dairy operations with some specialty crop production near urban areas. Small to medium-sized family farms dominate with mixed crop and livestock systems.

Quick Facts


Region	South Central
Top Commodities	Corn, Soybeans, Hogs, Poultry, Dairy, Floriculture
Farms & Ranches	~520 (approx.)
Agricultural Land	~250,000 acres
Average Farm Size	~225 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 "Rice 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 Rice County Operations

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

Water quality protection programs focus on the Cannon River watershed with nutrient management practices. Beginning farmer programs support agricultural transitions in this productive farming area.

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 Rice County's specific LWG priorities yet.

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

Your Next Steps in Rice County

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

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