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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
| Region | Northwest |
| Top Commodities | Wheat, Cattle & calves, Soybeans, Corn, Barley, Bison |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Severe Drought (D2).
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 Mountrail County.
NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)
21 1st St SE, Stanley, ND 58784
FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)
Reynold Building, 140 Park Pl, New Town, ND 58763
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.
Forage and Grazing in Mountrail County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 40% of farmland in Mountrail County, about 463,086 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around June and forage peaks in July. FSA sets the county’s normal grazing period separately; ask your office to confirm it, because LFP counts only the drought weeks that fall inside it.
Farm Structure in Mountrail County
Farms in Mountrail County average 2,276 acres, and about 5% are small operations. Roughly 21% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 450 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Mountrail County
Given the operation mix in Mountrail County, the practices that most often come up are prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing for grazing operations; cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election for row-crop ground; and brush management for rangeland. 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 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
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the North Dakota guide: North Dakota Farm Programs Guide
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