Mountrail County, North Dakota: USDA programs and conservation funding

512
Farms & Ranches
1.2M
Acres in Agriculture
2,276
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$38.1M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Grain, Wheat, Grain, Cattle, Soybeans
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Mountrail County, North Dakota has 512 farms working 1,165,469 agricultural acres (average 2,276 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $38.1 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Grain, Wheat, Grain. Vegetation typically peaks in Jul, defining the primary growing season.

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Farm Programs & Local Resources

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

About Mountrail County

Mountrail County sits within the Central Dark Brown Glaciated Plains (MLRA 53B) region. Elevation averages about 2,281 feet.

Temperatures in Mountrail County range from a January mean low of 1°F to a July mean high near 81°F. Annual precipitation averages 17.0 inches. Expect about 214 frost-free days.

Mountrail County ran 512 farms, 1,165,469 acres of farmland, and 22,436 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: wheat, cattle, and soybeans.


Quick Facts

RegionNorthwest
Top CommoditiesWheat, Cattle & calves, Soybeans, Corn, Barley, Bison

Current Conditions

Drought status: None (None).

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor · Updated 2026-04-14

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 Mountrail County.

NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)

21 1st St SE, Stanley, ND 58784

(701) 628-2151

FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)

Reynold Building, 140 Park Pl, New Town, ND 58763

(701) 627-4783

This county also has 1 additional FSA 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.


Programs for Mountrail County Operations

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

CRP provides income stability for producers dealing with oil development impacts and variable growing conditions. EQIP supports livestock water development and fencing to manage grazing around industrial activities.

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

Bordering Counties

If your operation extends into or you compare conditions against adjacent counties, see Burke County, North Dakota, Dunn County, North Dakota, McKenzie County, North Dakota, McLean County, North Dakota, Ward County, North Dakota, and Williams County, North Dakota. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.

Your Next Steps in Mountrail 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 DevelopmentEQIP Fencing

Vegetation Baseline

0.20
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.78
Peak season (Jul)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Mountrail 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.