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Columbia County, GA

Cattle prices near Columbia County, Georgia. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Washington GA in Washington, GA, about 31 miles away. The latest report is dated Nov 10 (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 Saluda SC (Exchange) 5-wt steers $356per cwt

Columbia County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Columbia County, GA with no drought, though 5% at moderate drought (D1); 5% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, down from 24% four weeks earlier. Over 90 days rain is at 73% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 21% (well 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 2% rain chance. Columbia County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and Washington GA is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 31 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 21% of normal
  • Last 60 days 72% of normal
  • Last 90 days 73% 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 Mostly Sunny, high 59°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 0–3 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 62°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 2–5 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 65°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 2–6 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 69°, low 39°, 0% rain, wind 3–5 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 73°, low 42°, 2% rain, wind 2–3 mph
  6. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 73°, low 43°, 2% rain, wind 2–3 mph
  7. Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 73°, low 44°, 2% 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 Columbia 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.

Columbia County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Columbia County grew about 2,077 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 116% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,791 pounds per acre. That was the 5th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 1994 at 2,393 pounds per acre; worst: 2014 at 1,364.

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 Columbia 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

Columbia 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
Washington GA 31 miNov 10–
Saluda SC (Stockyards) 41 miNov 9–
Saluda SC (Exchange) 41 miNov 9$356
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

Washington GA 31 mi

Washington, GA
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb2355.00$1,600
Heifers 500-599 lb4317.24$1,740
Heifers 600-699 lb1305.00$1,980
Steers 400-499 lb3396.67$1,790
Steers 600-699 lb2316.50$2,060

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Saluda SC (Stockyards) 41 mi

Saluda, SC
Sale of Nov 9, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb8356.18$1,600
Heifers 500-599 lb3323.29$1,780

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Saluda SC (Exchange) 41 mi

Saluda, SC
Sale of Nov 9, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb22361.98$1,630
Heifers 500-599 lb38316.52$1,740
Heifers 600-699 lb13290.71$1,890
Heifers 700-799 lb2267.52$2,010
Steers 400-499 lb15419.76$1,890
Steers 500-599 lb15356.31$1,960
Steers 600-699 lb8320.00$2,080
Steers 700-799 lb10308.00$2,310

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

26 more within 200 mi: Greensboro GA (54 mi), Laurens SC (67 mi), Athens GA (71 mi), Williamston SC (75 mi), Carnesville GA (80 mi), Orangeburg SC (80 mi), Oak Park GA (82 mi), Eastanollee GA (88 mi), Jackson GA (101 mi), Hawkinsville GA (112 mi), Shelby NC (127 mi), Thomaston GA (128 mi), Fitzgerald GA (140 mi), Canton NC (141 mi), Darlington SC (146 mi), Ashburn GA (151 mi), Carrollton GA (163 mi), Calhoun GA (167 mi), Norwood NC (168 mi), Roanoke AL (182 mi), Turnersburg NC (182 mi), Greeneville TN (184 mi), Athens TN (188 mi), Sweetwater TN (190 mi), North Wilkesboro NC (192 mi), Knoxville TN (193 mi).

Text me Columbia County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Wilkes County Stockyard Washington, GA 31 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  2. Saluda Stockyards Saluda, SC 41 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  3. Saluda Livestock Exchange Saluda, SC 41 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  4. Duvall Livestock Greensboro, GA 54 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  5. Laurens Livestock Exchange Laurens, SC 67 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 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 Georgia): Alabama, Tennessee

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Columbia County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Columbia 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 Columbia County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Columbia County was in no drought, and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 5% 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 Columbia County?

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

What sale barns are near Columbia County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Washington GA (31 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Saluda SC (Stockyards) (41 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Saluda SC (Exchange) (41 mi), last report Nov 9, 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.