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Buncombe County, NC

Cattle prices near Buncombe County, North Carolina. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Greeneville TN in Greeneville, TN, about 42 miles away. On Nov 14, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $381.08 per hundredweight on 13 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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Drought No droughtNone · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Canton NC 5-wt steers $372per cwt

Buncombe County rain, outlook and forecast

As of the Nov 10 Drought Monitor, most of Buncombe County, NC showed no drought, though 2% at abnormally dry (D0); four weeks earlier 77% of the county was abnormally dry (D0) or worse, now 2%. Buncombe County has had 52% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 60% over 90 days; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain and no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 2% rain chance. Buncombe County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Canton NC, 18 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 52% of normal
  • Last 60 days 70% 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 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 Sunny, high 48°, low 27°, 0% rain, wind 1–9 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 57°, low 30°, 0% rain, wind 2 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 60°, low 31°, 0% rain, wind 2–3 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 63°, low 33°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 66°, low 36°, 0% rain, wind 2 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 66°, low 38°, 0% rain, wind 2–3 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 65°, low 39°, 2% rain, wind 1–7 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 Buncombe 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.

Buncombe County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Buncombe County grew about 2,937 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 114% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,584 pounds per acre. That was the 5th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2012 at 3,042 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,003.

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 Buncombe 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

Buncombe 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
Canton NC 18 miNov 14–
Greeneville TN 42 miNov 14$381
Shelby NC 60 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

Canton NC 18 mi

Canton, NC
Sale of Nov 14, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Greeneville TN 42 mi

Greeneville, TN
Sale of Nov 14, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb10372.53$1,680
Heifers 500-599 lb14328.58$1,810
Heifers 600-699 lb3296.56$1,930
Heifers 700-799 lb3276.67$2,080
Steers 400-499 lb3420.00$1,890
Steers 500-599 lb13381.08$2,100
Steers 700-799 lb1300.00$2,250

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Shelby NC 60 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

33 more within 200 mi: Williamston SC (68 mi), Laurens SC (82 mi), Knoxville TN (83 mi), Eastanollee GA (86 mi), North Wilkesboro NC (87 mi), Carnesville GA (94 mi), Turnersburg NC (99 mi), Sweetwater TN (109 mi), Athens TN (117 mi), Saluda SC (Stockyards) (119 mi), Saluda SC (Exchange) (119 mi), Athens GA (124 mi), Washington GA (130 mi), Norwood NC (139 mi), Crossville TN (142 mi), Greensboro GA (146 mi), Dublin VA (146 mi), Somerset KY (154 mi), Calhoun GA (156 mi), Albany KY (163 mi), Siler City NC (172 mi), Russell Springs KY (173 mi), Orangeburg SC (174 mi), Richmond KY (176 mi), Darlington SC (176 mi), Stanford KY (178 mi), Jackson GA (180 mi), McMinnville TN (183 mi), Roanoke VA (184 mi), Mt. Sterling KY (187 mi), Moneta VA (195 mi), Carthage TN (196 mi), Campbellsville KY (197 mi).

Text me Buncombe County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. WNC Regional Livestock Center Canton, NC 18 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 14, 2026
  2. Volunteer Stockyards Greeneville, TN 42 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 14, 2026
  3. Cleveland County Agriculture & Livestock Exchange Shelby, NC 60 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Upstate Livestock Exchange Williamston, SC 68 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  5. Laurens Livestock Exchange Laurens, SC 82 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 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 Buncombe County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Buncombe 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 Buncombe County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Buncombe County was in no drought, and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 2% 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 Buncombe 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 Buncombe County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Canton NC (18 mi), last report Nov 14, 2026; Greeneville TN (42 mi), last report Nov 14, 2026; Shelby NC (60 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.