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Calhoun County, IA

Cattle prices near Calhoun County, Iowa. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Denison IA in Denison, IA, about 44 miles away. On Nov 12, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $410.35 per hundredweight on 90 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) Not listedFSA 2026 list Burn ban Checkcall the county Denison IA 5-wt steers $410▼ $1 since last sale

Calhoun County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Calhoun County, IA showed no drought. Rain has run 92% of normal over the last 30 days (near normal); the best rain chance this week is 91% on Friday (high 61°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (60% chance of above-normal rain). FSA has not added Calhoun County to its 2026 LFP list, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Denison IA, 44 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 92% of normal
  • Last 60 days 177% of normal
  • 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 (60% chance of above-normal rain)
  • 8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28) Leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain)

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Sunny, high 50°, low 30°, 0% rain, wind 3–8 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 54°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 6–13 mph
  3. Tuesday Mostly Sunny, high 56°, low 43°, 0% rain, wind 8–18 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 59°, low 42°, 15% rain, wind 6–20 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 56°, low 40°, 15% rain, wind 0–6 mph
  6. Friday Rain Showers Likely, high 61°, low 47°, 91% rain, wind 5–12 mph
  7. Saturday Rain Showers Likely, high 56°, low 33°, 68% rain, wind 7–15 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 Calhoun 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.

Calhoun County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Calhoun County grew about 1,717 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 173% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 995 pounds per acre. That was the 4th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2023 at 1,877 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 199.

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 Calhoun 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

Calhoun 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
Denison IA 44 miNov 12$410
Dunlap IA 61 miNov 6$377
Tama IA 110 miSep 14$418
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

Denison IA 44 mi

Denison, IA
Sale of Nov 12, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb35396.90$1,790
Heifers 500-599 lb98352.12$1,940
Heifers 600-699 lb108363.21$2,360
Heifers 700-799 lb36296.00$2,220
Steers 400-499 lb12430.83$1,940
Steers 500-599 lb90410.35$2,260
Steers 600-699 lb232387.93$2,520
Steers 700-799 lb72363.75$2,730

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Dunlap IA 61 mi

Dunlap, IA
Sale of Nov 6, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb15388.68$1,750
Heifers 500-599 lb57341.25$1,880
Heifers 600-699 lb21300.18$1,950
Heifers 700-799 lb20299.15$2,240
Steers 500-599 lb45376.52$2,070
Steers 600-699 lb77336.36$2,190
Steers 700-799 lb91335.69$2,520

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Tama IA 110 mi

Tama, IA
Sale of Sep 14, 2026 old
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb163442.27$1,990
Heifers 500-599 lb137390.88$2,150
Heifers 600-699 lb23336.75$2,190
Heifers 700-799 lb12293.17$2,200
Steers 400-499 lb76468.23$2,110
Steers 500-599 lb367418.48$2,300
Steers 600-699 lb117367.12$2,390
Steers 700-799 lb14335.06$2,510

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

9 more within 200 mi: West Point (112 mi), Russell IA (122 mi), Worthing SD (126 mi), Lamoni IA (128 mi), Sigourney IA (145 mi), Unionville MO (157 mi), Bloomfield IA (161 mi), Green City MO (171 mi), Mitchell SD (195 mi).

Text me Calhoun County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Denison Livestock Auction (feeder cattle) Denison, IA 44 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  2. Dunlap Livestock Auction (feeder cattle) Dunlap, IA 61 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 6, 2026
  3. Tama Livestock Auction (feeder cattle) Tama, IA 110 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Sep 14, 2026
  4. West Point Livestock (feeder cattle) West Point, NE 112 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 2, 2026
  5. Russell Livestock Market (feeder cattle) Russell, IA 122 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 · Hay prices in Iowa

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Calhoun County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Not on FSA's 2026 LFP county list as of Nov 5, 2026. FSA updates the list as drought changes.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Nov 5, 2026

What is the drought level in Calhoun County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Calhoun 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 Calhoun County?

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

What sale barns are near Calhoun County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Denison IA (44 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026; Dunlap IA (61 mi), last report Nov 6, 2026; Tama IA (110 mi), last report Sep 14, 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.