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Cherry County, NE

Cattle prices near Cherry County, Nebraska. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Valentine in Valentine, NE, about 33 miles away. On Nov 12, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $449.12 per hundredweight on 537 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Cherry 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 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Valentine 5-wt steers $449▲ $19 since last sale

Cherry County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Cherry County, NE abnormally dry (D0), with 29% at moderate drought (D1); four weeks earlier 31% of the county was in moderate drought (D1) or worse, now 29%. Rain has run 161% of normal over the last 30 days (well above normal) and 199% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; the best rain chance this week is 58% on Friday (high 55°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (60% chance of above-normal rain). Cherry County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and Valentine is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 33 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 161% of normal
  • Last 60 days not read yet
  • Last 90 days 199% 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 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 55°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 15–25 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 59°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 15–20 mph
  3. Tuesday Partly Sunny, high 55°, low 38°, 3% rain, wind 15–25 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 57°, low 29°, 5% rain, wind 5–20 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 54°, low 36°, 19% rain, wind 5–15 mph
  6. Friday Chance Rain Showers, high 55°, low 31°, 58% rain, wind 10–20 mph
  7. Saturday Chance Rain And Snow Showers, high 44°, low 23°, 44% rain, wind 10–20 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 Cherry 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.

Cherry County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Cherry County grew about 1,860 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 127% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,470 pounds per acre. That was the 4th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 1,903 pounds per acre; worst: 2002 at 1,077.

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 Cherry 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

Cherry 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
Valentine 33 miNov 12$449
Gordon 61 miNov 10$464
Bassett 77 miNov 11$459
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

Valentine 33 mi

Valentine, NE
Sale of Nov 12, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb159424.34$1,910
Heifers 500-599 lb335417.45$2,300
Heifers 600-699 lb394415.99$2,700
Heifers 700-799 lb11360.00$2,700
Steers 400-499 lb93487.58$2,190
Steers 500-599 lb537449.12$2,470
Steers 600-699 lb702406.67$2,640
Steers 700-799 lb196390.45$2,930

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Gordon 61 mi

Gordon, NE
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb87413.45$1,860
Heifers 500-599 lb156398.11$2,190
Heifers 600-699 lb33335.00$2,180
Steers 400-499 lb56499.69$2,250
Steers 500-599 lb112463.62$2,550
Steers 600-699 lb155393.53$2,560
Steers 700-799 lb38314.69$2,360

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Bassett 77 mi

Bassett, NE
Sale of Nov 11, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb213449.59$2,020
Heifers 500-599 lb746412.45$2,270
Heifers 600-699 lb280392.31$2,550
Heifers 700-799 lb5329.00$2,470
Steers 400-499 lb329499.48$2,250
Steers 500-599 lb1,183459.16$2,530
Steers 600-699 lb1,297409.98$2,660
Steers 700-799 lb377380.54$2,850

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

14 more within 200 mi: North Platte (101 mi), Ogallala (105 mi), Philip SD (106 mi), Burwell (112 mi), Crawford (121 mi), Fort Pierre SD (128 mi), Ericson (133 mi), Lexington (141 mi), Imperial (145 mi), Torrington WY (163 mi), Kearney (164 mi), Mitchell SD (171 mi), Sterling (174 mi), St. Onge SD (191 mi).

Text me Cherry County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Valentine Livestock Auction Valentine, NE 33 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  2. Gordon Livestock Market Gordon, NE 61 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. Bassett Livestock Auction Bassett, NE 77 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  4. North Platte Stockyards North Platte, NE 101 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 3, 2026
  5. Ogallala Livestock Auction Ogallala, NE 105 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

Other barns nearby (not USDA-reported)

These barns are not in a USDA AMS report, so Cownty shows no prices for them. Sale days and phones come from the barns' own sites or public listings; call the barn to confirm. More barns

Printable county brief (PDF) · Everything on one page · Hay prices in Nebraska

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Cherry County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Cherry 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 Cherry County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Cherry County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 29% 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 Cherry County?

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

What sale barns are near Cherry County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Valentine (33 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026; Gordon (61 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Bassett (77 mi), last report Nov 11, 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.