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USDA SUBSIDY DATA · 2024 · EWG / FOIA

USDA Subsidy Payments in Stearns County, Minnesota

Stearns County received $39.7M in farm subsidies (2024).

Stearns County at a Glance
Agricultural Producers
N/A
Top Commodities
N/A
USDA Payments
$39.7M
Subsidy Recipients
1,475
Land Value?
N/A
Cropland Rent?
N/A
22 USDA programs currently accepting applications. Find programs for your farm →
1,475 farmers in Stearns County received $39.7M in 2024
Average payment: $26,898 per recipient
Program Breakdown — Stearns County

Stearns County, Minnesota received $39.7M in total farm subsidies (2024).

Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) $24,236
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) $2.4M
Disaster Payments $1.4M
Crop Insurance Subsidies $17.6M
Dairy Programs $719,446
Total $39.7M
Top Recipients — Stearns County (1,475 total)

Businesses shown by full name; individuals shown by initials (FOIA/EWG data).

1. R.A.C. — Sauk Centre, MN 56378
$132,333
2. Molitor Organic Farms Inc — Saint Cloud, MN 56301
$101,251
3. Middendorf Farms Inc — Freeport, MN 56331
$65,597
4. Rittenhouse Bee Farm Inc — Paynesville, MN 56362
$52,114
5. Hellermann Farms — Melrose, MN 56352
$51,546
6. A.J.I. — Melrose, MN 56352
$47,321
7. J.H.G. — Melrose, MN 56352
$44,048
8. D.E.H. — Paynesville, MN 56362
$41,068
9. S.J.S. — Shoreview, MN 55126
$34,998
10. Borgerding Dairy LLC — Belgrade, MN 56312
$34,232
11. Tidy Farm Turkeys Inc — Freeport, MN 56331
$33,479
12. D.J.T. — Belgrade, MN 56312
$33,291
13. N.R.K. — Melrose, MN 56352
$26,589
14. J.A.T. — Albany, MN 56307
$26,289
15. N.K. — Melrose, MN 56352
$25,956
16. Rittenhouse Apiaries LLC — Hawick, MN 56273
$25,619
17. D.A.V. — Paynesville, MN 56362
$24,862
18. B.T.M. — Avon, MN 56310
$24,700
19. Reeck Farm LLC — Paynesville, MN 56362
$24,160
20. K.J.L. — Paynesville, MN 56362
$23,694
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How to Apply — Open Programs

These USDA programs are currently accepting applications. Visit your local NRCS/FSA office to get started.

ARC-CO (Agriculture Risk Coverage — County) FSA

Provides revenue loss protection when actual county crop revenue drops below a benchmark. Payment is automatic once enrolled — no claim needed.

Value: $8–$75/acre depending on crop and county revenue shortfall
Complexity: Low — sign election at FSA, 15 minutes
Where: Your local FSA office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • FSA farm number (FSA will have it on file)
PLC (Price Loss Coverage) FSA

Provides price protection when the national average price for a covered commodity drops below its reference price. Pays on base acres, not planted acres.

Value: $0–$125+/acre depending on how far price drops below reference
Complexity: Low — sign election at FSA, 15 minutes
Where: Your local FSA office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • FSA farm number
CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) FSA

Annual rental payments for removing environmentally sensitive land from production and planting conservation cover (grass, trees, buffers). 10-15 year contracts.

Value: $50–$300+/acre/year depending on soil rental rate in your county
Complexity: Medium — FSA evaluates your offer using Environmental Benefits Index
Where: Your local FSA office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • FSA farm number
  • Deed or lease for the land
  • Cropping history (last 6 years)
EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) NRCS

Cost-share payments (typically 50-75%) for conservation practices: cover crops, fencing, water systems, nutrient management, erosion control, and more.

Value: Cost-share typically 50-75% of practice cost (90% for beginning farmers). Payment limits removed for FY2025.
Complexity: Low to apply (2-page form), then NRCS develops conservation plan with you
Where: Your local NRCS office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • Deed or lease
  • Description of conservation concerns
CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program) NRCS

Annual payments for maintaining and improving existing conservation practices. If you're already doing cover crops, no-till, or rotational grazing — you may already qualify.

Value: $4,000–$40,000+/year depending on acres and practices (minimum raised from $1,500 to $4,000 in FY2024)
Complexity: Medium — NRCS evaluates your existing conservation and scores it
Where: Your local NRCS office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • Deed or lease
  • Description of current conservation practices
Federal Crop Insurance RMA

Government-subsidized crop insurance. The government pays ~60% of your premium. Protects against yield loss, revenue loss, or both.

Value: Premium subsidy saves $5–$30+/acre; coverage at 50-85% of expected revenue
Complexity: Low-Medium — agent handles paperwork, you choose coverage level
Where: Through a private crop insurance agent (not FSA/NRCS)
Bring:
  • Production records (yield history)
  • Acreage information
  • FSA farm/tract numbers
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USDA Funding Rank — Stearns County, Minnesota ?
1,475 subsidy recipients were funded in Stearns County in 2024.
93th
percentile in Minnesota
Ranked 7th of 85 counties · $4.9M total
0th 50th 100th
What this means: Stearns County receives more USDA funding than 93% of counties in Minnesota. This county is a major recipient of federal farm support.

Want the full list of every subsidy recipient in Stearns County?

See All Recipients on EWG →

Environmental Working Group publishes full USDA FOIA data.

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Data Sources

All data is from public federal sources. Updated periodically — verify current details at your local USDA office.

Program information sourced from USDA. Eligibility described here is general guidance only. Confirm at your local FSA or NRCS office. FarmGrant is not affiliated with USDA.