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Albemarle County, VA

Cattle prices near Albemarle County, Virginia. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Radiant VA in Radiant, VA, about 27 miles away. On Nov 10, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $407.50 per hundredweight on 16 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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Drought Abnormally dryD0 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Radiant VA 5-wt steers $408per cwt

Albemarle County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Albemarle County, VA was abnormally dry (D0); four weeks earlier 77% of the county was abnormally dry (D0) or worse, now 100%. Over 90 days rain is at 60% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 15% (well below normal); no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 3% rain chance and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans drier than normal (33% chance of below-normal rain). Albemarle County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Radiant VA, 27 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 15% of normal
  • Last 60 days 60% of normal
  • Last 90 days 60% 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 drier than normal (33% chance of below-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 Scattered Rain And Snow Showers, high 55°, low 32°, 3% rain, wind 6–10 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 58°, low 30°, 0% rain, wind 1–5 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 62°, low 32°, 0% rain, wind 1 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 66°, low 33°, 0% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 68°, low 36°, 0% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 69°, low 39°, 0% rain, wind 0–2 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 68°, 0% rain, wind 0–3 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 Albemarle 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.

Albemarle County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Albemarle County grew about 3,253 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 119% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,744 pounds per acre. That was the 2nd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 3,363 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,197.

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 Albemarle 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

Albemarle 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.

CropAlbemarle CountyNational average
Corn$2.56 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.58 /cwt
($2.56 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.98 /bu $6.82 /bu
Soft red winter wheat$3.25 /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 Albemarle County

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Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

Virginia crop and pasture condition

Virginia 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

VirginiaThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Cotton Harvested63%48%63%

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

Text me Albemarle County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Radiant Livestock Radiant, VA 27 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  2. Shenandoah Valley Livestock Harrisonburg, VA 33 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 7, 2026
  3. Rockingham Livestock Harrisonburg, VA 33 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  4. Culpeper Culpeper, VA 43 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 6, 2026
  5. Lynchburg Livestock Rustburg, VA 60 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 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 Virginia): Kentucky, Tennessee

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Albemarle County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Albemarle 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 Albemarle County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Albemarle County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 100% of the county. 0 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 Albemarle County?

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

What sale barns are near Albemarle County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Radiant VA (27 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Harrisonburg VA (Shenandoah) (33 mi), last report Nov 7, 2026; Harrisonburg VA (Rockingham) (33 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Apples 2027: last day to buy crop insurance; Nov 20, 2026: Grapes 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.