North Dakota Hobby Farms: Where Do We Rank?

North Dakota might be a powerhouse when it comes to farming, leading the way in crops like grains, oil seeds, flax, and even honey production. But where do we stand when it comes to hobby farms?

If you’ve been daydreaming about owning a cozy plot with a few goats, a vegetable patch, and maybe a tiny tractor, we’ve got some fresh stats on the best (and not-so-best) states for hobby farming. Lawn Love recently rolled out a report ranking the lower 48 states for hobby farms, and North Dakota’s score is...well, it could be better.

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How Hobby Farm Rankings Were Determined

So, how does one rank states for hobby farming? Lawn Love took a pretty thorough approach. They used 16 key factors grouped into four major categories: Land and Environmental Conditions, Livestock and Agricultural Resources, Legal and Policy Factors, and Economic and Market access. Each factor was weighted for importance, scores were tallied up, and states were ranked out of 100 points to see who came out on top.

North Dakota’s Hobby Farm Ranking and Regional Standings

After all that number crunching, North Dakota came in 35th place. Not exactly leading the pack! Our neighbor Minnesota ranked 26th, while Montana was close behind us at 37th. South Dakota, though, shone in our region, scoring an impressive 12th place—clearly, they know a thing or two about backyard farming! Meanwhile, Kentucky took the crown, earning the top spot, while Oregon came in at the very bottom of the list at 48th.

North Dakota’s Unique Farming Culture and Growing Hobby Farm Scene

But before we take these rankings too hard, let’s remember that North Dakota has a unique farming culture all its own. We may be better known for the wide open plains, endless sunflower fields, and mega wheat crops, but hobby farming is growing here too. And who’s to say North Dakota’s big-agriculture heart can’t make room for a few more charming hobby farms?

Opportunities for Aspiring Hobby Farmers in North Dakota

Sure, Kentucky might be leading in terms of hobby-farm friendliness, but there’s still plenty of room for hobby farmers to carve out their little pieces of paradise here. So, whether you’re raising hens or daydreaming about a pumpkin patch, North Dakota has plenty to offer to the aspiring hobby farmer—just bring your enthusiasm and maybe a sturdy pair of gloves. Who knows? Next year, we might just climb a few spots in those rankings!