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Botetourt County, VA

Cattle prices near Botetourt County, Virginia. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Roanoke VA in Roanoke, VA, about 22 miles away. On Nov 9, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $350.22 per hundredweight on 9 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

Check a bid with Ring Price

Change county
CRP emergency haying & grazing: Botetourt 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 Abnormally dryD0 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 2 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Roanoke VA 5-wt steers $350per cwt

Botetourt County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Botetourt County, VA was abnormally dry (D0) on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, with 36% at moderate drought (D1); 36% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, the same as four weeks earlier. Rain has run 20% of normal over the last 30 days (well below normal) and 86% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; 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). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Botetourt County with up to 2 monthly payments, and Roanoke VA is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 22 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 20% of normal
  • Last 60 days 94% of normal
  • Last 90 days 86% 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 Mostly Sunny, high 53°, low 31°, 3% rain, wind 1–8 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 59°, low 29°, 0% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 63°, low 32°, 0% rain, wind 0–1 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 66°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 69°, low 36°, 0% rain, wind 1 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 70°, low 38°, 0% rain, wind 0–1 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 68°, 1% rain, wind 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 Botetourt 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.

Botetourt County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Botetourt County grew about 3,297 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 118% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,786 pounds per acre. That was the 2nd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 3,304 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 2,079.

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 Botetourt 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

Botetourt 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
Roanoke VA 22 miNov 9$350
Moneta VA 28 miNov 7$340
Rustburg VA 43 miNov 9$383
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

Roanoke VA 22 mi

Roanoke, VA
Sale of Nov 9, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb4340.50$1,530
Heifers 500-599 lb9326.00$1,790
Heifers 600-699 lb1275.00$1,790
Heifers 700-799 lb10275.20$2,060
Steers 400-499 lb2354.00$1,590
Steers 500-599 lb9350.22$1,930
Steers 600-699 lb4329.00$2,140
Steers 700-799 lb2286.50$2,150

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Moneta VA 28 mi

Moneta, VA
Sale of Nov 7, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb9310.00$1,400
Heifers 500-599 lb13275.00$1,510
Heifers 600-699 lb4255.00$1,660
Steers 400-499 lb5350.00$1,580
Steers 500-599 lb3340.00$1,870
Steers 600-699 lb2285.00$1,850

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Rustburg VA 43 mi

Rustburg, VA
Sale of Nov 9, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb23356.00$1,600
Heifers 500-599 lb35319.66$1,760
Heifers 600-699 lb33312.77$2,030
Heifers 700-799 lb17299.71$2,250
Steers 400-499 lb17406.26$1,830
Steers 500-599 lb18382.94$2,110
Steers 600-699 lb34348.62$2,270
Steers 700-799 lb18324.00$2,430

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

21 more within 200 mi: Dublin VA (58 mi), Monterey VA (60 mi), Harrisonburg VA (Shenandoah) (78 mi), Harrisonburg VA (Rockingham) (78 mi), Radiant VA (101 mi), Buckhannon WV (101 mi), Blackstone VA (104 mi), Weston WV (108 mi), Moorefield WV (113 mi), Culpeper VA (116 mi), North Wilkesboro NC (121 mi), Turnersburg NC (127 mi), Siler City NC (128 mi), Terra Alta WV (131 mi), Ripley WV (135 mi), Marshall VA (139 mi), Winchester VA (142 mi), Norwood NC (162 mi), Smithfield NC (162 mi), Shelby NC (185 mi), Greeneville TN (193 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 2 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 Sorghum2026-07-01 to 2026-09-302026-07-282
Full Season Improved2026-04-01 to 2026-11-152026-04-282
Native Pasture2026-04-01 to 2026-11-152026-04-282
Long Season Small Grains2026-04-01 to 2026-05-152026-04-281

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

  • Jul 31, 2026 · Drought
    Botetourt declared · crop year 2026
  • Jun 26, 2026 · Drought
    Neighboring county declared (counts for Botetourt) · crop year 2026
  • Jun 26, 2026 · Frost, Freeze
    Botetourt declared · crop year 2026
  • Jun 26, 2026 · Frost, Freeze
    Botetourt 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

Open Botetourt County is on FSA's emergency haying and grazing list, starting Sep 1, 2026. Trigger: D2 (severe) drought on the Drought Monitor. Get an updated conservation plan from FSA before cutting or turning out.

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); Virginia'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 Botetourt County

Forecast for the center point of Botetourt County.

  • Freeze on 3 nights
  1. Today Mostly Sunny 53° 31° NW 1–8 mph 3% rain
  2. Mon Sunny 59° 29° NW 1–2 mph 0% rain
  3. Tue Sunny 63° 32° NW 0–1 mph 0% rain
  4. Wed Sunny 66° 34° 0 mph 0% rain
  5. Thu Sunny 69° 36° NW 1 mph 0% rain
  6. Fri Sunny 70° 38° N 0–1 mph 0% rain
  7. Sat Sunny 68° –° SE 2 mph 1% rain

Forecast from the National Weather Service, updated Nov 15, 2026 old. 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 Virginia; 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
5.17 in 161% of normal
Last 12 months
33.82 in 77%
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 3.22 in; same month last year 2.21 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.

CropBotetourt CountyNational average
Corn$2.56 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.58 /cwt
($2.56 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.93 /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.

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 Botetourt 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)

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.

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: 3,297 lb per acre, well above normal (118% of the 1991-2020 average of 2,786).

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 (14% 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 Botetourt County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Roanoke-Hollins Roanoke, VA 22 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  2. Springlake Stockyard Moneta, VA 28 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 7, 2026
  3. Lynchburg Livestock Rustburg, VA 43 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  4. Pulaski Livestock Dublin, VA 58 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Sep 23, 2026
  5. Monterey Stockyard LLC Monterey, VA 60 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Oct 21, 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 Botetourt County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Botetourt County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 2 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 Botetourt County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Botetourt County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 36% 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 Botetourt 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 Botetourt County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Roanoke VA (22 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Moneta VA (28 mi), last report Nov 7, 2026; Rustburg VA (43 mi), last report Nov 9, 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.