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Clay County, NE

Cattle prices near Clay County, Nebraska. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Kearney in Kearney, NE, about 55 miles away. On Nov 11, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $435.82 per hundredweight on 390 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 3 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Kearney 5-wt steers $436▲ $24 since last sale

Clay County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Clay County, NE showed no drought. Clay County has had 183% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 207% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (60% chance of above-normal rain) and the best rain chance this week is 63% on Friday (high 65°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Clay County with up to 3 monthly payments, and Kearney is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 55 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 183% of normal
  • Last 60 days not read yet
  • Last 90 days 207% 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 54°, low 34°, 1% rain, wind 5–10 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 54°, low 41°, 1% rain, wind 5–15 mph
  3. Tuesday Partly Sunny, high 56°, low 46°, 0% rain, wind 15–20 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 65°, low 37°, 17% rain, wind 0–20 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 58°, low 47°, 16% rain, wind 0–10 mph
  6. Friday Chance Rain Showers, high 65°, low 45°, 63% rain, wind 15–20 mph
  7. Saturday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 53°, low 30°, 21% rain, wind 5–15 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 Clay 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.

Clay County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Clay County grew about 2,326 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 98% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,380 pounds per acre. That was the 18th lowest of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2021 at 2,821 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,147.

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 Clay 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

Clay 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

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

Text me Clay County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Huss Livestock Market Kearney, NE 55 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  2. Lexington Livestock Market Lexington, NE 91 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  3. Ericson Livestock Market Ericson, NE 93 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 14, 2026
  4. Burwell Livestock Market Burwell, NE 103 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  5. West Point Livestock (feeder cattle) West Point, NE 115 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 2, 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 Clay County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Clay County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 3 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 Clay County this week?

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

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Kearney (55 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Lexington (91 mi), last report Nov 13, 2026; Ericson (93 mi), last report Nov 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.