Big Farms, Big Impact: Western ND’s Top Counties for Farmland

When you think of North Dakota, you probably picture vast fields, tractors, and hardworking folks in flannels. And you’d be right! North Dakota is home to some of the hardest-working people in the country, particularly when it comes to farming. The state’s rolling plains offer miles and miles of fertile ground, just waiting to be cultivated. If farmland were a person, it would definitely need a pair of oversized jeans and a comfy hat, because there’s a lot of land to cover!

Stacker.com recently crunched the numbers and ranked the top 25 counties in North Dakota with the most farmland. Unsurprisingly, western North Dakota made a big splash in the rankings.

Let’s take a look at the top four counties in the region and their contributions to the agricultural powerhouse that is North Dakota.

9th: Williams County
This corner of western North Dakota brings in the big guns with 903,754 acres of farmland. That’s a solid 2.6% of the state’s total farmland! Williams County boasts 1,950 farms, and hard amber durum spring wheat is its bread and butter (literally). A whopping 244,045 acres of this wheat make up 27% of the county’s farmland. So, if you’re a fan of pasta, this is where your durum dreams come true!

8th: Mountrail County
Right next door, Mountrail County is no slouch, claiming 933,521 acres (2.7% of the state total). With 2,045 farms, this county leans heavily on native grass, which takes up 324,842 acres or 34.8% of the farmland. You could say Mountrail is where the grass really is greener!

7th: Ward County
Ward County matches Mountrail acre-for-acre with 933,581 acres (2.7% of North Dakota’s farmland), but it leads with 2,489 farms. The county’s claim to fame? Hard red spring wheat, which covers 263,691 acres and 28.2% of the county’s farmland. Wheat lovers, rejoice!

1st: McKenzie County
Drumroll, please! McKenzie County tops not just the western region, but the entire state, with a jaw-dropping 1,527,063 acres of farmland—4.4% of the state total. Its 1,392 farms make good use of the land, primarily growing native grass (1,009,910 acres, 66.1% of the county's farmland). Talk about putting the “prairie” in prairie land!

So, next time you enjoy a loaf of bread or a bowl of pasta, give a nod to these western North Dakota counties—where the farm life is big, and the land is even bigger.