McLean County, North Dakota: USDA programs and conservation funding

742
Farms & Ranches
1.0M
Acres in Agriculture
1,414
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$20.4M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Grain, Wheat, Grain, Corn, Soybeans
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

McLean County, North Dakota has 742 farms working 1,049,482 agricultural acres (average 1,414 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $20.4 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Grain, Wheat, Grain. Vegetation typically peaks in Jun, defining the primary growing season.

Programs likely to fit McLean County operations

With 742 farms averaging 1,414 acres, a grain and wheat commodity base, vegetation peaking near Jun at 0.58 NDVI, these are the federal programs most worth a closer look. Every program is competitive — confirm fit with your local USDA office.

← North Dakota Farm Programs Guide

Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

About McLean County

McLean County is part of the Central Dark Brown Glaciated Plains land resource region (MLRA 53B). The county's mean elevation is about 1,917 feet.

Based on 1991–2020 normals, McLean County sees 17.7 in of rain, a 214-day growing season, a 41.4°F mean annual temperature.

McLean County carries 13,755 head of cattle (2022 Ag Census). Pastureland totals 231,810 acres. 742 farms operate in the county, averaging 1,414 acres each.

Quick Facts
RegionWest Central
Top CommoditiesWheat, Corn, Soybeans, Cattle & calves, Honey, Barley

Current Conditions

Drought status: Severe Drought (D2). LFP-eligible for 5+ weeks — check FSA for livestock forage assistance.

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor · Updated 2026-09-08

Your Local USDA Offices

Your nearest USDA Service Center houses both NRCS (conservation programs like EQIP and CSP) and FSA (loans, disaster assistance, farm numbers). Here are the offices serving McLean County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

140 5th Ave SW, Garrison, ND 58540

(701) 463-2267

This county also has 1 additional NRCS office. View all offices

Office info is from USDA’s published directory. Call ahead to confirm hours before visiting.

What to do when you call: Ask to schedule a meeting with a conservation planner (for EQIP/CSP) or a loan officer (for FSA programs). Mention the type of operation you run and what improvements you're considering.

Forage and Grazing in McLean County

Satellite vegetation data (2021–2025 average) shows forage in McLean County greening up around May and peaking in June. The county carries about 231,810 acres of pastureland. Your county’s official normal grazing period is set by FSA and can differ from the satellite curve — confirm it with your local office, since it determines which drought weeks count toward LFP.

Farm Structure in McLean County

The 2022 Census of Agriculture puts McLean County at an average farm size of 1,414 acres, 7% small operations, 26% of producers aged 65 or older, and about 6,679 acres irrigated. Those numbers shape which programs fit — your FSA and NRCS staff can tell you which ranking pool your operation falls into.

What Tends to Fit in McLean County

Given the operation mix in McLean County, the practices that most often come up are cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election for row-crop ground. Whether any of them scores well depends on your county's Local Working Group priorities, which NRCS can walk you through before you apply.

Programs for McLean County Operations

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

Conservation Stewardship Program promotes cover cropping and no-till practices in intensive grain production areas. Mine land reclamation projects incorporate agricultural restoration with EQIP technical assistance.

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

Local Conservation Priorities

Each county's NRCS Local Working Group sets the conservation practices that score highest for EQIP funding. Knowing your county's priorities before you apply can significantly improve your ranking.

How to find your county's priorities:

  • Call your local NRCS office and ask: "What practices is the Local Working Group prioritizing this year?"
  • Ask which EQIP ranking pool your operation fits (there may be separate pools for livestock, cropland, forestry, etc.)
  • Check your state NRCS website for published ranking criteria

Nearby Counties

Operators in McLean County frequently work or lease ground across county lines. Neighboring counties include Burleigh County, North Dakota, Dunn County, North Dakota, McHenry County, North Dakota, Mercer County, North Dakota, Mountrail County, North Dakota, and Oliver County, North Dakota. USDA programs and local NRCS priorities may differ from one jurisdiction to the next.

Your Next Steps in McLean County

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

Part of Farmer's Navigator. Built by ranchers. Every guide on this site is free.

Related program guides

EQIP Prescribed GrazingCSPEQIP Water Development

Vegetation Baseline

0.28
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.58
Peak season (Jun)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for McLean County

Check drought statusCurrent USDM conditions and historical drought data.PRF rainfall analysis78 years of grid-level rainfall data for hay and grazing insurance.Estimate EQIP costsSee what NRCS may cover and your estimated out-of-pocket share.Disaster triageLost livestock or pasture? Find your disaster programs and deadlines.See all deadlinesEvery USDA program deadline in one place.