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Bowman County, ND

Cattle prices near Bowman County, North Dakota. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Dickinson ND in Dickinson, ND, about 64 miles away. On Nov 12, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $447.56 per hundredweight on 935 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Bowman 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 SevereD2 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Dickinson ND 5-wt steers $448▲ $19 since last sale

Bowman County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Bowman County, ND in severe drought (D2), with 36% at extreme drought (D3); week 17 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Rain has run 32% of normal over the last 30 days (well below normal); the NWS forecast peaks at a 48% rain chance on Friday (high 38°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (40% chance of above-normal rain). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Bowman County with up to 4 monthly payments, and Dickinson ND is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 64 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 32% of normal
  • Last 60 days not read yet
  • Last 90 days not read yet

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 toward near-normal rain

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Sunny, high 58°, low 31°, 0% rain, wind 6–15 mph
  2. Monday Mostly Sunny, high 60°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 3–8 mph
  3. Tuesday Mostly Sunny, high 53°, low 30°, 10% rain, wind 3–10 mph
  4. Wednesday Chance Light Rain, high 40°, low 24°, 27% rain, wind 8–37 mph
  5. Thursday Partly Sunny, high 37°, low 25°, 18% rain, wind 6–16 mph
  6. Friday Chance Rain And Snow, high 38°, low 22°, 48% rain, wind 8–20 mph
  7. Saturday Chance Light Snow, high 35°, low 18°, 29% rain, wind 7–23 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 Bowman 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.

Bowman County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Bowman County grew about 1,550 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 132% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,178 pounds per acre. That was the 5th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2015 at 1,660 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 603.

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 Bowman 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

Bowman 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)

Drought, past 12 months

95% of the county in severe drought or worse, 17 weeks running.

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: 95% of the county is in severe drought or worse; some of it has been for 17 weeks running. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Nov 10, 2026.

Guide: What D0–D4 mean

See the drought map

Text me Bowman County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Stockmen's Livestock Exchange (feeder cattle) Dickinson, ND 64 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  2. St. Onge Livestock Ltd St. Onge, SD 109 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  3. Miles City Livestock Commission Miles City, MT 113 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Kist Livestock (feeder cattle) Mandan, ND 134 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  5. Mobridge Livestock Exchange Mobridge, SD 153 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 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 North Dakota): South Dakota, Montana

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Bowman County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Bowman 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 Bowman County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Bowman County was in severe drought (D2), and the worst part was extreme drought (D3) on 36% of the county. 17 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 Bowman County?

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

What sale barns are near Bowman County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Dickinson ND (64 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026; St. Onge SD (109 mi), last report Nov 13, 2026; Miles City MT (113 mi), last report Nov 10, 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: Whole Farm Revenue Protection 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.