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Clay County, TN
Cattle prices near Clay County, Tennessee. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Albany KY in Albany, KY, about 25 miles away. On Nov 11, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $405.45 per hundredweight on 17 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.
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Clay County rain, outlook and forecast
On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Clay County, TN was in severe drought (D2); some part has been in severe drought (D2) or worse for 3 straight weeks. Over 90 days rain is at 57% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 66% (below normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain and no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 6% rain chance. Clay County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 3 monthly payments, and Albany KY is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 25 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 66% of normal
- Last 60 days 48% of normal
- Last 90 days 57% 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 toward near-normal rain
NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 14, 2026. Source.
Next 7 days
- Today Sunny, high 55°, low 29°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Monday Widespread Frost then Sunny, high 59°, low 30°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Tuesday Widespread Frost then Sunny, high 62°, low 29°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
- Wednesday Areas Of Fog then Sunny, high 65°, low 32°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
- Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 67°, low 36°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Friday Sunny, high 69°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
- Saturday Sunny, high 70°, low 43°, 6% rain, wind 0–5 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 3,685 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 111% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 3,313 pounds per acre. That was the 4th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2004 at 3,706 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,201.
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 2 open
| What happened | Started | Tell FSA early by | FSA deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme drought (D3) reached (U.S. Drought Monitor) | Nov 3, 2026 | Dec 3, 2026 (18 days left) | Mar 1, 2027 |
| Severe drought (D2) began (U.S. Drought Monitor) | Oct 27, 2026 | Nov 26, 2026 (11 days left) | Mar 1, 2027 |
If this cost you livestock, extra feed or hauled water, call your county FSA office now, while it's fresh. The 30-day date is a suggestion from Cownty; FSA's deadline for the notice of loss and application is the March 1 date. Log it in your Drought Ledger · Find your FSA office and phone
Text YES CLOCK for a reminder on day 21 and day 28.
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)
Prices
5-wt steers, nearest barns
Steers 500–599 lb, $/cwt, weekly average.
| Barn | Last sale | 5-wt steers |
|---|---|---|
| Albany KY 25 mi | Nov 11 | $405 |
| Lafayette TN 27 mi | Nov 4 | $390 |
| Carthage TN 30 mi | Nov 14 | $376 |
How to read this
Each line is one barn's head-weighted average for 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) in that week; gaps are weeks with no sale or no lots that size. Past sales, not a bid.
Dollars per hundredweight ($/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
45 more within 200 mi: Glasgow KY (38 mi), Russell Springs KY (43 mi), Crossville TN (50 mi), Campbellsville KY (56 mi), Bowling Green KY (United) (57 mi), Bowling Green KY (Cattleman) (57 mi), McMinnville TN (61 mi), Somerset KY (64 mi), Upton KY (66 mi), Springfield KY (81 mi), Stanford KY (84 mi), Unionville TN (86 mi), Sweetwater TN (89 mi), Guthrie KY (90 mi), Athens TN (92 mi), Harned KY (96 mi), Knoxville TN (97 mi), Columbia TN (105 mi), Dickson TN (107 mi), Richmond KY (107 mi), Hopkinsville KY (109 mi), Fayetteville TN (112 mi), Lexington KY (119 mi), Owensboro KY (120 mi), Pulaski TN (125 mi), Paris KY (134 mi), Mt. Sterling KY (137 mi), Owenton KY (143 mi), Calhoun GA (146 mi), Greeneville TN (154 mi), Kilpatrick AL (160 mi), Arab AL (162 mi), Flemingsburg KY (163 mi), Huntingdon TN (164 mi), Ledbetter KY (167 mi), Canton NC (167 mi), Florence AL (168 mi), Moulton AL (172 mi), Savannah TN (176 mi), Cullman AL (179 mi), Russellville AL (187 mi), Eastanollee GA (190 mi), Ashville AL (192 mi), Trenton TN (193 mi), Carnesville GA (198 mi).
Drought
Drought, past 12 months
51% of the county in severe drought or worse, 3 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: 51% of the county is in severe drought or worse; some of it has been for 3 weeks running. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Nov 10, 2026.
Programs
Drought pasture pay (LFP)
On FSA's 2026 list for 3 pasture types. Up to 3 monthly payments.
Bring head counts, grazing leases and pasture acres to your county FSA office.
How to read this
Each bar is a pasture type; the number is how many monthly payments it qualifies for (1 to 5).
Pasture table
| Pasture type | Grazing period | Qualifying date | Payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forage Sorghum | 2026-05-01 to 2026-09-30 | 2026-05-19 | 3 |
| Full Season Improved | 2026-03-15 to 2026-11-30 | 2026-05-18 | 3 |
| Native Pasture | 2026-05-01 to 2026-10-15 | 2026-05-19 | 3 |
FSA "Counties & Pasture Types Eligible for 2026 LFP", file dated Nov 5, 2026 (download). FSA decides eligibility. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.
USDA disaster declarations
- Jul 28, 2026 · Drought
Neighboring county declared (counts for Clay) · crop year 2026 - Jul 28, 2026 · Drought
Clay declared · crop year 2026 - May 19, 2026 · Drought
Neighboring county declared (counts for Clay) · crop year 2026 - May 6, 2026 · Drought
Neighboring county declared (counts for Clay) · crop year 2026 - Jul 16, 2025 · Flood, Flash Flooding
Neighboring county declared (counts for Clay) · crop year 2025 - Mar 25, 2025 · Drought
Neighboring county declared (counts for Clay) · crop year 2025
"Declared" means USDA named this county. "Neighboring" means it touches a declared county. Either way, FSA emergency loans can open for about 8 months. FSA designation files (dated Jan 28, 2026, Oct 19, 2026). Fetched Nov 9, 2026.
CRP emergency haying and grazing
Open Clay County is on FSA's emergency haying and grazing list, starting Oct 27, 2026. Trigger: D2 (severe) drought on the Drought Monitor. Get an updated conservation plan from FSA before cutting or turning out.
Before haying and grazing, contact your FSA county office to see if your county remains eligible and/or obtain a modified conservation plan. This list is cumulative for the year and current local conditions may have changed.
Source: FSA eligible-county table posted Nov 5, 2026 · map · FSA program page. FSA posts a new file every Thursday. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.
Screwworm (Texas Animal Health Commission)
New FSA programs: watch list
| Date | Scope | Release | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2026 | Mississippi | USDA Designates one Tennessee Counties as Natural Disaster Areas | |
| Nov 4, 2026 | Hawaii and Pacific Islands | USDA Extends Application Deadline for Emergency Conservation Program Assistance for Guam and CNMI Counties for Typhoon Bavi Impacts | |
| Nov 4, 2026 | Nebraska | USDA Authorizes Deadline Extension for Emergency Conservation Program in Several Wildfire-Impacted Counties | |
| Nov 4, 2026 | Florida | USDA Designates 9 Alabama Counties as Natural Disaster Areas | |
| Nov 3, 2026 | Alabama | USDA Designates 9 Alabama Counties as Natural Disaster Areas |
Weather & fire
Weather for Clay County
Forecast for the center point of Clay County.
- Freeze on 4 nights
- Today Sunny 55° 29° NNE 0–5 mph 0% rain
- Mon Widespread Frost then Sunny 59° 30° NE 0–5 mph 0% rain
- Tue Widespread Frost then Sunny 62° 29° 0 mph 0% rain
- Wed Areas Of Fog then Sunny 65° 32° 0 mph 0% rain
- Thu Mostly Sunny 67° 36° SSW 0–5 mph 0% rain
- Fri Sunny 69° 37° 0 mph 0% rain
- Sat Sunny 70° 43° S 0–5 mph 6% rain
Forecast from the National Weather Service, updated Nov 15, 2026. Wind arrows point where the wind is going; the letters say where it comes from. Windy = 25 mph or more; freeze = a low of 32°F or less. Open the full forecast.
Burn ban
No official ban list to check here, so Cownty shows the National Weather Service fire-weather alerts for the county instead: none right now.
Weather warnings right now
None right now
National Weather Service active alerts for this county, as of Nov 15, 2026 (source). Fetched Nov 15, 2026.
Rainfall vs normal
How to read this
Bars are the rain that fell each month; the dashed line is a normal month (1991-2020 average). Bars below the line = drier than normal.
County-average precipitation, Nov 2025 to Oct 2026. Normal = NCEI's own 1991-2020 average for each month (Oct 2026 normal 3.33 in; same month last year 4.21 in). NCEI posts each month around the 8th of the next and may revise recent months. Source: NOAA NCEI Climate at a Glance. Fetched Nov 14, 2026.
Wildfires
No current fire perimeter in the county
Nearest current perimeter: Cactus (Wildfire, TN), about 44 mi from the county center; 219 acres, 100% contained, perimeter of Nov 2, 2026.
Interagency fire outlines. Small or brand-new fires are often not mapped yet; call 911 for a fire you can see. Layer updated Nov 15, 2026. Source: National Interagency Fire Center. Fetched Nov 15, 2026.
Frost dates
Frost and freeze dates
30-year averages (1991–2020) from the weather stations nearest Clay County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Livingston Radio Wliv weather station (16 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 195-day growing season |
Apr 12 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 30 |
Oct 25 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 12 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 217-day growing season |
Apr 1 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 15 |
Nov 3 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 21 |
Byrdstown weather station (23 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 196-day growing season |
Apr 12 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 30 |
Oct 25 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 13 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 218-day growing season |
Mar 31 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 16 |
Nov 3 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 22 |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Livingston Radio Wliv, Byrdstown), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Nov 11, 2026.
Money
FSA grain loan rates (2026)
What FSA will lend on stored grain, per bushel. Lets you hold grain instead of selling at harvest.
| Crop | Clay County | National average |
|---|---|---|
| Corn | $2.53 /bu | $2.42 /bu |
| Grain sorghum | $4.54 /cwt ($2.54 /bu) |
$2.42 /bu |
| Soybeans | $6.91 /bu | $6.82 /bu |
| Soft red winter wheat | $3.21 /bu | $3.72 /bu |
County marketing-loan rates. Sorghum's county rate is set per 100 lb; the per-bushel figure uses 56 lb a bushel. Source: FSA 2026 corn/sorghum/soybean schedule, wheat schedule, national rates. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.
FSA farm loan interest rates
| FSA direct loan | Rate |
|---|---|
| Farm Operating - Direct | 5.625% |
| Farm Operating - Microloan | 5.625% |
| Farm Ownership - Direct | 6.250% |
| Farm Ownership - Microloan | 6.250% |
| Farm Ownership - Direct, Joint Financing | 4.250% |
| Farm Ownership - Down Payment | 2.250% |
| Emergency Loan - Amount of Actual Loss | 3.750% |
Set nationally by FSA; the same in every county. Effective Nov 1, 2026. Source: FSA current loan interest rates. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.
Farm program payments by crop (ARC and PLC)
ARC pays when county crop revenue falls below its guarantee. PLC pays when the national price falls below the reference price. You picked one per crop when you enrolled.
PLC, 2026 FSA table of Oct 30, 2026
| Crop | Reference price | Season avg price | PLC payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat /bushel | $6.35 | $6.30 projected | $0.05 projected |
| Barley /bushel | $5.58 | $5.70 projected | $0.00 projected |
| Oats /bushel | $3.05 | $3.35 projected | $0.00 projected |
| Corn /bushel | $4.42 | $4.70 projected | $0.00 projected |
| Grain Sorghum /bushel | $4.67 | $4.50 projected | $0.17 projected |
| Soybeans /bushel | $10.71 | $12.00 projected | $0.00 projected |
PLC rates are national (paid on the farm's PLC yield). Source: FSA 2026 PLC table. FSA decides who is paid.
FSA payments in Clay County
Crop conditions (statewide)
Tennessee crop and pasture condition
Tennessee statewide, not just your county. From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.
| Condition | Poor or very poor | Fair | Good or excellent |
|---|
Progress
| Tennessee | This week | Last week | Normal (5-yr avg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton Harvested | 90% | 80% | 75% |
| Corn Harvested | 100% | 100% | 96% |
Source: USDA NASS Crop Progress released Nov 9, 2026 (ESMIS), Tennessee rows. Week ending Nov 8, 2026. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.
Deadlines
-
Nov 20, 2026in 5 daysApply for NRCS conservation cost-share (EQIP, CSP, ACEP) to be considered for 2027 moneyNRCS conservation programs
Details and source
NRCS takes applications year-round; apply by this date to be ranked for this fiscal year's funding.Date posted: NRCS Application Cutoff Dates page (Tennessee)Source: USDA NRCS · checked Nov 14, 2026 -
Dec 1, 2026in 16 daysLast day to buy 2027 pasture rain insurance (PRF)Crop insurance (RMA)
-
Mar 1, 2027in 106 daysLivestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.206(a)
Details and source
Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026 -
Mar 1, 2027in 106 daysEmergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP): notice of loss, application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.107
Details and source
Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026 -
Mar 1, 2027in 106 daysLivestock Indemnity Program (LIP): notice of loss, application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.305(b)
Details and source
Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026
All deadlines and report dates · FSA disaster-program deadlines are pending (no official feed).
Guide: PRF insurance and the Dec 1 deadline
Land
Where it is, with barns within 200 mi
Dots are sale barns USDA reports on. Tap one for its latest prices.
Grass grown on rangeland and pasture
Grass grown in 2025: 3,685 lb per acre, a little above normal (111% of the 1991-2020 average of 3,313).
How to read this
Each bar is one year's grass (darker = perennial grasses, lighter = annuals). The dashed line is the 1991-2020 average. A county average with cropland excluded, not your pasture.
How we got this
Satellite estimate of new above-ground growth of grasses and forbs for the year (annual + perennial, lb/acre), averaged over the county's grassland, pasture and shrubland (19% of the county in USDA's 2025 cropland map; farm fields are left out because the estimate isn't valid there, and the same 2025 map is used for every year). About about 120 m (RAP overview). Source: Rangeland Analysis Platform biomass v3 (data, Jones et al. 2021, CC0) and USDA NASS Cropland Data Layer.
Source: Rangeland Analysis Platform, 2025 season. Fetched Nov 13, 2026.
Useful links
Shipping cattle out of Texas
Each state sets its own entry rules for ID, health certificates and screwworm checks. Look up the state you're shipping to before you load.
- InterstateLivestock.com state-by-state entry rules
Source: InterstateLivestock.com (third-party site) · link checked Nov 15, 2026
- APHIS cattle animal disease traceability decision tree (PDF)
Source: USDA APHIS · link checked Nov 15, 2026
Link only. Cownty doesn't copy or check this content; follow the source.
AgriLife events in the High Plains
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension meetings, field days and CEU programs in the Panhandle.
- High Plains events and learning
Source: Texas A&M AgriLife · link checked Nov 15, 2026
Link only. Cownty doesn't copy or check this content; follow the source.
When to pull cattle off wheat
Grazing past first hollow stem cuts grain yield. Oklahoma State's guide explains how to check a field, and its yearly trial reports first-hollow-stem dates by variety.
- Fall forage and first hollow stem dates by wheat variety, 2025–2026
Source: Oklahoma State University Extension · link last confirmed Oct 17, 2026 (site blocks automated checks)
- First hollow stem: a critical wheat growth stage (how to check)
Source: Oklahoma State University Extension · link last confirmed Oct 17, 2026 (site blocks automated checks)
Link only. Cownty doesn't copy or check this content; follow the source.
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.
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 severe drought (D2), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 51% of the county. 3 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
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 Tennessee; 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: Albany KY (25 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Lafayette TN (27 mi), last report Nov 4, 2026; Carthage TN (30 mi), last report Nov 14, 2026.
Source: USDA AMS Market News reports
What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?
Next: Nov 20, 2026: Apply for NRCS conservation cost-share (EQIP, CSP, ACEP) to be considered for 2027 money; 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.