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Cleveland County, NC

Cattle prices near Cleveland County, North Carolina. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Shelby NC in Shelby, NC, about 3 miles away. On Nov 10, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $356.71 per hundredweight on 9 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 Shelby NC 5-wt steers $357per cwt

Cleveland County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Cleveland County, NC showed no drought on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, though a sliver (<1%) at abnormally dry (D0); 0% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, down from 13% four weeks earlier. Over 90 days rain is at 95% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 30% (well below normal); no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 2% rain chance and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Cleveland County with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Shelby NC, 3 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 30% of normal
  • Last 60 days 125% of normal
  • Last 90 days 95% 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 57°, low 31°, 0% rain, wind 2–5 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 59°, low 32°, 0% rain, wind 0–3 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 62°, low 33°, 0% rain, wind 0–2 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 66°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 0–2 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 68°, low 38°, 0% rain, wind 0–1 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 70°, low 40°, 1% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 69°, low 41°, 2% rain, wind 0–3 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 Cleveland 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.

Cleveland County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Cleveland County grew about 2,966 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 109% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,723 pounds per acre. That was the 8th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 1998 at 3,198 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,649.

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 Cleveland 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

Cleveland 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)

  • Dec 1, 2026in 16 days
    Last day to buy 2027 pasture rain insurance (PRF)
    Crop insurance (RMA)
    Details and source
    Plans: Rainfall Index
    Date posted: USDA crop insurance (RMA)
    Source: USDA RMA · more · checked Aug 28, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Livestock 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
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.206(a) (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Emergency 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
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.107 (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Livestock 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
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.305(b) (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    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

Guide: How to apply for EQIP or CSP

Guide: Ag land property tax in OK, KS and NM

Text me Cleveland County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Cleveland County Agriculture & Livestock Exchange Shelby, NC 3 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  2. Harward Brothers Livestock Market Turnersburg, NC 58 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  3. Wilkes Livestock Exchange North Wilkesboro, NC 62 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  4. Laurens Livestock Exchange Laurens, SC 63 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  5. Upstate Livestock Exchange Williamston, SC 72 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 · Nearest USDA hay reports (none for North Carolina): Tennessee

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Cleveland County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Cleveland 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 Cleveland County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Cleveland County was in no drought, and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on a sliver (<1%) 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 Cleveland 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 Cleveland County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Shelby NC (3 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Turnersburg NC (58 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; North Wilkesboro NC (62 mi), last report Nov 11, 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.