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Alexander County, NC

Cattle prices near Alexander County, North Carolina. The closest sale barn with a recent report is North Wilkesboro NC in North Wilkesboro, NC, about 18 miles away. On Nov 11, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $353.40 per hundredweight on 10 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

Check a bid with Ring Price

Change county
Drought No droughtNone · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county North Wilkesboro NC 5-wt steers $353▼ $19 since last sale

Alexander County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Alexander County, NC showed no drought; 0% of the county is abnormally dry (D0) or worse, down from 45% four weeks earlier. Alexander County has had 25% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 105% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain and no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 1% rain chance. Alexander County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and North Wilkesboro NC is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 18 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 25% of normal
  • Last 60 days 129% of normal
  • Last 90 days 105% 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 Mostly Sunny, high 55°, low 31°, 0% rain, wind 5 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 58°, low 32°, 0% rain, wind 0–2 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 62°, low 33°, 0% rain, wind 0–1 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 65°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 0–1 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 67°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 0–2 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 69°, low 40°, 1% rain, wind 0–2 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 67°, low 40°, 1% rain, wind 0–2 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 Alexander 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.

Alexander County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Alexander County grew about 3,269 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 123% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,647 pounds per acre. That was the 1st best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2025 at 3,269 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,347.

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 Alexander 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

Alexander 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)

Prices

5-wt steers, nearest barns

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

BarnLast sale5-wt steers
North Wilkesboro NC 18 miNov 11$353
Turnersburg NC 21 miNov 9$354
Shelby NC 48 miNov 10$357
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

North Wilkesboro NC 18 mi

North Wilkesboro, NC
Sale of Nov 11, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb8361.50$1,630
Heifers 500-599 lb2320.00$1,760
Heifers 600-699 lb4268.49$1,750
Heifers 700-799 lb1240.00$1,800
Steers 400-499 lb6408.80$1,840
Steers 500-599 lb10353.40$1,940
Steers 700-799 lb9310.06$2,330

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Turnersburg NC 21 mi

Turnersburg, NC
Sale of Nov 9, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb33338.61$1,520
Heifers 500-599 lb36313.22$1,720
Heifers 600-699 lb28274.45$1,780
Heifers 700-799 lb12241.30$1,810
Steers 400-499 lb12381.52$1,720
Steers 500-599 lb30354.22$1,950
Steers 600-699 lb21318.23$2,070
Steers 700-799 lb14289.50$2,170

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Shelby NC 48 mi

Shelby, NC
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb27327.21$1,470
Heifers 500-599 lb31298.99$1,640
Heifers 600-699 lb24255.35$1,660
Heifers 700-799 lb6227.47$1,710
Steers 400-499 lb2385.00$1,730
Steers 500-599 lb9356.71$1,960
Steers 600-699 lb3320.59$2,080
Steers 700-799 lb3251.50$1,890

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

26 more within 200 mi: Norwood NC (77 mi), Dublin VA (86 mi), Greeneville TN (93 mi), Canton NC (97 mi), Siler City NC (97 mi), Laurens SC (109 mi), Williamston SC (116 mi), Roanoke VA (116 mi), Moneta VA (123 mi), Darlington SC (134 mi), Saluda SC (Stockyards) (137 mi), Saluda SC (Exchange) (137 mi), Rustburg VA (148 mi), Eastanollee GA (152 mi), Knoxville TN (155 mi), Carnesville GA (158 mi), Smithfield NC (161 mi), Orangeburg SC (169 mi), Chadbourn NC (173 mi), Washington GA (175 mi), Athens GA (184 mi), Sweetwater TN (186 mi), Monterey VA (193 mi), Blackstone VA (194 mi), Athens TN (195 mi), Greensboro GA (199 mi).

Drought

Drought, past 12 months

0% of the county in severe drought or worse.

How to read this

Each band is how much of the county was in that drought level that week. Darker = worse. D2 (severe) and darker can trigger USDA drought pay.

Right now: 0% of the county is in severe drought or worse; some of it has been for 0 weeks running. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Nov 10, 2026.

Guide: What D0–D4 mean

See the drought map

Programs

Drought pasture pay (LFP)

On FSA's 2026 list for 4 pasture types. Up to 4 monthly payments.

Bring head counts, grazing leases and pasture acres to your county FSA office.

How to read this

Each bar is a pasture type; the number is how many monthly payments it qualifies for (1 to 5).

Pasture table
Pasture typeGrazing periodQualifying datePayments
Forage Sorghum2026-05-15 to 2026-10-012026-05-154
Full Season Improved2026-04-01 to 2026-11-152026-04-074
Long Season Small Grains2025-11-01 to 2026-06-012026-02-024
Native Pasture2026-04-01 to 2026-11-152026-04-074

FSA "Counties & Pasture Types Eligible for 2026 LFP", file dated Nov 5, 2026 (download). FSA decides eligibility. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: How LFP works and who qualifies

Guide: ELAP and LIP basics

USDA disaster declarations

  • Apr 10, 2026 · Drought
    Alexander declared · crop year 2026

"Declared" means USDA named this county. "Neighboring" means it touches a declared county. Either way, FSA emergency loans can open for about 8 months. FSA designation files (dated Oct 19, 2026). Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: What a disaster designation means

CRP emergency haying and grazing

Not on the list Alexander County is not on FSA's emergency haying and grazing list as of Nov 5, 2026. Non-emergency haying and grazing may still be allowed outside the primary nesting season.

Before haying and grazing, contact your FSA county office to see if your county remains eligible and/or obtain a modified conservation plan. This list is cumulative for the year and current local conditions may have changed.

Source: FSA eligible-county table posted Nov 5, 2026 · map · FSA program page. FSA posts a new file every Thursday. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: CRP emergency haying and grazing rules

Screwworm (Texas Animal Health Commission)

Data pending. animal-health alerts are read for Texas (TAHC) and Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico (state ag departments); North Carolina's state veterinarian isn't read yet

Guide: Screwworm: what to know

New FSA programs: watch list
DateScopeReleaseFlag
Nov 4, 2026MississippiUSDA Designates one Tennessee Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
Nov 4, 2026Hawaii and Pacific IslandsUSDA Extends Application Deadline for Emergency Conservation Program Assistance for Guam and CNMI Counties for Typhoon Bavi Impacts
Nov 4, 2026NebraskaUSDA Authorizes Deadline Extension for Emergency Conservation Program in Several Wildfire-Impacted Counties
Nov 4, 2026FloridaUSDA Designates 9 Alabama Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
Nov 3, 2026AlabamaUSDA Designates 9 Alabama Counties as Natural Disaster Areas

Weather & fire

Next 7 days · National Weather Service

Weather for Alexander County

Forecast for the center point of Alexander County.

  • Freeze on 2 nights
  1. Today Mostly Sunny 55° 31° NNW 5 mph 0% rain
  2. Mon Sunny 58° 32° NNE 0–2 mph 0% rain
  3. Tue Sunny 62° 33° ENE 0–1 mph 0% rain
  4. Wed Sunny 65° 35° ENE 0–1 mph 0% rain
  5. Thu Sunny 67° 37° WNW 0–2 mph 0% rain
  6. Fri Sunny 69° 40° NNE 0–2 mph 1% rain
  7. Sat Sunny 67° 40° NE 0–2 mph 1% rain

Forecast from the National Weather Service, updated Nov 15, 2026. Wind arrows point where the wind is going; the letters say where it comes from. Windy = 25 mph or more; freeze = a low of 32°F or less. Open the full forecast.

Burn ban

Data pending. Cownty doesn't read an official statewide burn-ban list for North Carolina; county commissions, sheriffs and fire districts post local fire restrictions, so check your county's own notices

No official ban list to check here, so Cownty shows the National Weather Service fire-weather alerts for the county instead: none right now.

Guide: Burn bans: where to check and what they mean

Weather warnings right now

None right now

National Weather Service active alerts for this county, as of Nov 15, 2026 (source). Fetched Nov 15, 2026.

Rainfall vs normal

Oct 2026
4.80 in 140% of normal
Last 12 months
38.97 in 82%
How to read this

Bars are the rain that fell each month; the dashed line is a normal month (1991-2020 average). Bars below the line = drier than normal.

County-average precipitation, Nov 2025 to Oct 2026. Normal = NCEI's own 1991-2020 average for each month (Oct 2026 normal 3.43 in; same month last year 2.76 in). NCEI posts each month around the 8th of the next and may revise recent months. Source: NOAA NCEI Climate at a Glance. Fetched Nov 14, 2026.

Wildfires

No current fire perimeter in the county

No current perimeter within 100 mi of the county center (48 mapped nationally).

See the fire map

Interagency fire outlines. Small or brand-new fires are often not mapped yet; call 911 for a fire you can see. Layer updated Nov 15, 2026. Source: National Interagency Fire Center. Fetched Nov 15, 2026.

Frost dates

Frost and freeze dates

Data pending. NCEI normals not loaded yet for this county

Money

FSA grain loan rates (2026)

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

CropAlexander CountyNational average
Corn$2.59 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.58 /cwt
($2.56 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.95 /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.

Data pending. last fetch failed: HTTPError: 403 Client Error: Forbidden for url: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/arc-plc/program-data

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 Alexander County

Data pending. last fetch failed: HTTPError: 403 Client Error: Forbidden for url: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/tools/informational/freedom-information-act-foia/electronic-reading-room/frequently-requested/payment-files

Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

North Carolina crop and pasture condition

North Carolina statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is ahead of normal (61% vs 53%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent
Winter Wheat9%14% 77%

Progress

North CarolinaThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted61%43%53%
Winter Wheat Emerged33%19%33%
Cotton Harvested56%41%58%
Corn Harvested99%98%98%

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

Deadlines

  • Dec 1, 2026in 16 days
    Last day to buy 2027 pasture rain insurance (PRF)
    Crop insurance (RMA)
    Details and source
    Plans: Rainfall Index
    Date posted: USDA crop insurance (RMA)
    Source: USDA RMA · more · checked Aug 28, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.
    FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.206(a)
    Details and source
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.206(a) (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP): notice of loss, application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.
    FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.107
    Details and source
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.107 (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): notice of loss, application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.
    FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.305(b)
    Details and source
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.305(b) (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026

All deadlines and report dates · FSA disaster-program deadlines are pending (no official feed).

Guide: PRF insurance and the Dec 1 deadline

Guide: How to apply for EQIP or CSP

Guide: Ag land property tax in OK, KS and NM

Land

Where it is, with barns within 200 mi

Dots are sale barns USDA reports on. Tap one for its latest prices.

Who owns this land? Open the county property map

Grass grown on rangeland and pasture

Grass grown in 2025: 3,269 lb per acre, well above normal (123% of the 1991-2020 average of 2,647).

How to read this

Each bar is one year's grass (darker = perennial grasses, lighter = annuals). The dashed line is the 1991-2020 average. A county average with cropland excluded, not your pasture.

How we got this

Satellite estimate of new above-ground growth of grasses and forbs for the year (annual + perennial, lb/acre), averaged over the county's grassland, pasture and shrubland (28% of the county in USDA's 2025 cropland map; farm fields are left out because the estimate isn't valid there, and the same 2025 map is used for every year). About about 120 m (RAP overview). Source: Rangeland Analysis Platform biomass v3 (data, Jones et al. 2021, CC0) and USDA NASS Cropland Data Layer.

Source: Rangeland Analysis Platform, 2025 season. Fetched Nov 13, 2026.

Text me Alexander County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Wilkes Livestock Exchange North Wilkesboro, NC 18 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  2. Harward Brothers Livestock Market Turnersburg, NC 21 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  3. Cleveland County Agriculture & Livestock Exchange Shelby, NC 48 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Stanly County Livestock Market Norwood, NC 77 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  5. Pulaski Livestock Dublin, VA 86 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Sep 23, 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 North Carolina): Tennessee

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Alexander County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Alexander 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 Alexander County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Alexander County was in no drought, and the worst part was no drought on 0% 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 Alexander County?

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

What sale barns are near Alexander County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: North Wilkesboro NC (18 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Turnersburg NC (21 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Shelby NC (48 mi), last report Nov 10, 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: 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.