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Alachua County, FL

Cattle prices near Alachua County, Florida. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Lake City FL in Lake City, FL, about 39 miles away. On Nov 9, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $370.30 per hundredweight on 8 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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Change county
CRP emergency haying & grazing: Alachua County is on FSA's list (since Sep 1, 2026). Check with your FSA county office first. Details · FSA list as of Nov 5, 2026.
Drought ModerateD1 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 5 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Lake City FL 5-wt steers $370per cwt

Alachua County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Alachua County, FL was in moderate drought (D1) on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, with a sliver (<1%) at severe drought (D2); some part has been in severe drought (D2) or worse for 46 straight weeks. Over 90 days rain is at 122% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 45% (well below normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (40% chance of above-normal rain) and the NWS forecast peaks at a 29% rain chance on Tuesday (high 73°). Alachua County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 5 monthly payments, and Lake City FL is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 39 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 45% of normal
  • Last 60 days 119% of normal
  • Last 90 days 122% 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 wetter than normal (40% chance of above-normal rain)
  • 8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28) Leans wetter than normal (50% chance of above-normal rain)

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Sunny, high 67°, low 47°, 0% rain, wind 9 mph
  2. Monday Partly Sunny, high 71°, low 57°, 26% rain, wind 8–14 mph
  3. Tuesday Chance Rain Showers, high 73°, low 58°, 29% rain, wind 14–16 mph
  4. Wednesday Chance Rain Showers, high 76°, low 60°, 25% rain, wind 12–17 mph
  5. Thursday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 78°, low 62°, 19% rain, wind 14–17 mph
  6. Friday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 77°, low 60°, 22% rain, wind 10–17 mph
  7. Saturday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 78°, low 59°, 23% rain, wind 7–15 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 Alachua 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.

Alachua County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Alachua County grew about 3,417 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 125% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,730 pounds per acre. That was the 2nd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 3,567 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,058.

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

No open loss windows in Alachua County right now. A 30-day window opens when the county first hits severe drought (D2), jumps to D3 or D4, or after a blizzard, extreme heat or cold, flood or ice warning, a wildfire, or a USDA disaster designation. Keep a Drought Ledger.

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

Drought-sale tax flag IRS list

Alachua 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)

5-wt steers, nearest barns

Steers 500–599 lb, $/cwt, weekly average.

BarnLast sale5-wt steers
Lake City FL 39 miNov 9$370
Madison FL 84 miNov 10$393
Lakeland FL 115 miNov 10$356
How to read this

Each line is one barn's head-weighted average for 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) in that week; gaps are weeks with no sale or no lots that size. Past sales, not a bid.

Dollars per hundredweight ($/cwt, per 100 lb), calculated from USDA AMS Market News sale reports (Medium & Large 1 and 1-2). Not a USDA-published average. ≈ $/head = $/cwt × the middle of the weight class ÷ 100.

Guide: How to read a USDA sale barn report

Price history · Barn map · Fed vs feeder cattle

All weights at the 3 nearest barns

Lake City FL 39 mi

Lake City, FL
Sale of Nov 9, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb28384.56$1,730
Heifers 500-599 lb7336.07$1,850
Heifers 600-699 lb2269.76$1,750
Steers 400-499 lb8426.72$1,920
Steers 500-599 lb8370.30$2,040

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Madison FL 84 mi

Madison, FL
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb17394.14$1,770
Heifers 500-599 lb11353.86$1,950
Steers 400-499 lb17428.43$1,930
Steers 500-599 lb3393.46$2,160

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Lakeland FL 115 mi

Lakeland, FL
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb12397.86$1,790
Heifers 500-599 lb12324.57$1,790
Heifers 600-699 lb1260.00$1,690
Heifers 700-799 lb2254.93$1,910
Steers 400-499 lb7443.37$2,000
Steers 500-599 lb8355.63$1,960
Steers 600-699 lb4326.19$2,120

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

8 more within 200 mi: Thomasville GA (126 mi), Fitzgerald GA (150 mi), Ashburn GA (160 mi), Arcadia FL (172 mi), Donalsonville GA (177 mi), Oak Park GA (186 mi), Okeechobee FL (192 mi), Hawkinsville GA (193 mi).

Text me Alachua County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Columbia Livestock Auction Lake City, FL 39 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  2. Townsend Livestock Auction Madison, FL 84 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Lakeland, FL 115 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Thomasville Stockyard Thomasville, GA 126 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  5. South Central Livestock Fitzgerald, GA 150 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Oct 12, 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 Florida): Alabama

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Alachua County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Alachua County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 5 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 Alachua County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Alachua County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on a sliver (<1%) of the county. 46 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 Alachua County?

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

What sale barns are near Alachua County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Lake City FL (39 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Madison FL (84 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Lakeland FL (115 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Blueberries 2027: last day to buy crop insurance; Nov 20, 2026: Micro Farm 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.