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Aiken County, SC

Cattle prices near Aiken County, South Carolina. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Saluda SC (Stockyards) in Saluda, SC, about 32 miles away. The latest report is dated Nov 9 (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Aiken County is on FSA's list (since Oct 27, 2026). Check with your FSA county office first. Details · FSA list as of Nov 5, 2026.
Drought No droughtNone · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Saluda SC (Exchange) 5-wt steers $356per cwt

Aiken County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Aiken County, SC showed no drought on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, though 7% at severe drought (D2); week 3 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Aiken County has had 23% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 84% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 2% rain chance and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain. Aiken County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and Saluda SC (Stockyards) is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 32 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 23% of normal
  • Last 60 days 74% of normal
  • Last 90 days 84% of normal

NOAA river forecast center rain (radar plus gauges) at the county center, Nov 15, 2026. Source.

Rain outlook

  • 6-10 day outlook (Nov 20–24) Leans toward near-normal rain
  • 8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28) Leans wetter than normal (40% chance of above-normal rain)

NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 14, 2026. Source.

Next 7 days

  1. Today Widespread Frost then Sunny, high 58°, low 31°, 0% rain, wind 1–6 mph
  2. Monday Mostly Sunny, high 60°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 5–8 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 65°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 5–10 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 69°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 3–9 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 73°, low 42°, 0% rain, wind 6–7 mph
  6. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 73°, low 43°, 1% rain, wind 5–9 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 73°, 2% rain, wind 6–9 mph

National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 15, 2026. Wind, warnings and burn bans.

PRF pasture insurance: sign up by Dec 1, 2026

The 2027 Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) insurance sales closing date for Aiken County is Dec 1, 2026, 16 days from today. PRF (Rainfall Index) pays on a rainfall index for your grid, not on your own rain gauge. You buy it through a crop insurance agent.

How PRF works · PRF 2027 sign-up · Find your grid on RMA's PRF tool

Date from USDA RMA's actuarial data, read Aug 28, 2026 · RMA dates map. Your agent confirms the date for your policy.

Aiken County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Aiken County grew about 1,756 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 114% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,546 pounds per acre. That was the 8th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 1991 at 1,888 pounds per acre; worst: 2014 at 1,011.

Pounds per acre of new grass and forbs each year on rangeland and pasture, from the Rangeland Analysis Platform (satellite-based estimates). See every year on the Land tab.

Open loss windows 1 open

What happenedStartedTell FSA early byFSA deadline
Severe drought (D2) began (U.S. Drought Monitor) Oct 27, 2026Nov 26, 2026 (11 days left)Mar 1, 2027

If this cost you livestock, extra feed or hauled water, call your county FSA office now, while it's fresh. The 30-day date is a suggestion from Cownty; FSA's deadline for the notice of loss and application is the March 1 date. Log it in your Drought Ledger · Find your FSA office and phone

Text YES CLOCK for a reminder on day 21 and day 28.

Information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. FSA decides eligibility. Cownty sends nothing to FSA.

Drought-sale tax flag IRS list

Aiken County is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (severe or worse drought, Sep 1, 2025 to Aug 31, 2026).

Why it matters: if you sold breeding, dairy or draft livestock because of drought, the tax code may let you put off the gain (more time to buy replacement animals, or report the extra-sale income a year later). Your tax preparer decides whether either applies.

Work out your numbers and print a page for your preparer

Information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. Ask your tax preparer. FSA decides program eligibility. IRS Notice 2026-54 (PDF)

FSA grain loan rates (2026)

What FSA will lend on stored grain, per bushel. Lets you hold grain instead of selling at harvest.

CropAiken CountyNational average
Corn$2.61 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.58 /cwt
($2.56 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.85 /bu $6.82 /bu
Soft red winter wheat$3.21 /bu $3.72 /bu

County marketing-loan rates. Sorghum's county rate is set per 100 lb; the per-bushel figure uses 56 lb a bushel. Source: FSA 2026 corn/sorghum/soybean schedule, wheat schedule, national rates. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

FSA farm loan interest rates

FSA direct loanRate
Farm Operating - Direct5.625%
Farm Operating - Microloan5.625%
Farm Ownership - Direct6.250%
Farm Ownership - Microloan6.250%
Farm Ownership - Direct, Joint Financing4.250%
Farm Ownership - Down Payment2.250%
Emergency Loan - Amount of Actual Loss3.750%

Set nationally by FSA; the same in every county. Effective Nov 1, 2026. Source: FSA current loan interest rates. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Farm program payments by crop (ARC and PLC)

ARC pays when county crop revenue falls below its guarantee. PLC pays when the national price falls below the reference price. You picked one per crop when you enrolled.

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PLC, 2026 FSA table of Oct 30, 2026

CropReference priceSeason avg pricePLC payment
Wheat /bushel$6.35$6.30 projected$0.05 projected
Barley /bushel$5.58$5.70 projected$0.00 projected
Oats /bushel$3.05$3.35 projected$0.00 projected
Corn /bushel$4.42$4.70 projected$0.00 projected
Grain Sorghum /bushel$4.67$4.50 projected$0.17 projected
Soybeans /bushel$10.71$12.00 projected$0.00 projected

PLC rates are national (paid on the farm's PLC yield). Source: FSA 2026 PLC table. FSA decides who is paid.

FSA payments in Aiken County

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Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

South Carolina crop and pasture condition

South Carolina statewide, not just your county. From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent

Progress

South CarolinaThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Cotton Harvested60%43%53%

Source: USDA NASS Crop Progress released Nov 9, 2026 (ESMIS), South Carolina rows. Week ending Nov 8, 2026. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Text me Aiken County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Saluda Stockyards Saluda, SC 32 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  2. Saluda Livestock Exchange Saluda, SC 32 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  3. Orangeburg Stockyards Orangeburg, SC 44 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  4. Wilkes County Stockyard Washington, GA 65 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  5. Laurens Livestock Exchange Laurens, SC 69 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026

Miles are straight-line from the county center. Sale days come from the barns' recent USDA AMS reports; call the barn to confirm. All barns

Printable county brief (PDF) · Everything on one page · Nearest USDA hay reports (none for South Carolina): Alabama, Tennessee

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Aiken County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Aiken County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 4 monthly payments for some pasture types. FSA decides each operation's eligibility; apply at your county FSA office by March 1 after the loss year.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Nov 5, 2026

What is the drought level in Aiken County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Aiken County was in no drought, and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 7% of the county. 3 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Nov 10, 2026

Is there a burn ban in Aiken County?

No official statewide list to check: Cownty doesn't read an official statewide burn-ban list for South Carolina; county commissions, sheriffs and fire districts post local fire restrictions, so check your county's own notices.

What sale barns are near Aiken County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Saluda SC (Stockyards) (32 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Saluda SC (Exchange) (32 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Orangeburg SC (44 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Micro Farm 2027: last day to buy crop insurance; Nov 20, 2026: Peaches 2027: last day to buy crop insurance. FSA program dates not posted officially are marked "confirm at source" on the calendar.

Source: official agency pages (see Calendar)

Information only; not financial or legal advice. FSA decides eligibility. Always check the linked official source.