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Craighead County, AR

Cattle prices near Craighead County, Arkansas. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Ash Flat AR in Ash Flat, AR, about 61 miles away. On Nov 13, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $369.08 per hundredweight on 10 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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Change county
CRP emergency haying & grazing: Craighead 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 ExceptionalD4 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 5 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Ash Flat AR 5-wt steers $369per cwt

Craighead County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Craighead County, AR was in exceptional drought (D4) on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, and D2-or-worse drought has held there 48 weeks running. Rain has run 35% of normal over the last 30 days (well below normal); the best rain chance this week is 27% on Saturday (high 73°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Craighead County with up to 5 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Ash Flat AR, 61 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 35% of normal
  • Last 60 days 35% of normal
  • Last 90 days not read yet

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 (33% chance of above-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

  1. Today Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny, high 57°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 5 mph
  2. Monday Areas Of Frost then Sunny, high 60°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  3. Tuesday Areas Of Frost then Sunny, high 63°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 66°, low 43°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 70°, low 47°, 1% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 72°, low 48°, 1% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  7. Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 73°, low 50°, 27% rain, wind 5–10 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 Craighead 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.

Craighead County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Craighead County grew about 2,772 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 98% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,822 pounds per acre. That was the 20th lowest of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 3,284 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,310.

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 1 open

What happenedStartedTell FSA early byFSA deadline
Exceptional drought (D4) reached (U.S. Drought Monitor) Oct 27, 2026Nov 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

Craighead 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)

FSA grain loan rates (2026)

What FSA will lend on stored grain, per bushel. Lets you hold grain instead of selling at harvest.

CropCraighead CountyNational average
Corn$2.58 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.44 /cwt
($2.49 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.97 /bu $6.82 /bu
Soft red winter wheat$3.30 /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 loanRate
Farm Operating - Direct5.625%
Farm Operating - Microloan5.625%
Farm Ownership - Direct6.250%
Farm Ownership - Microloan6.250%
Farm Ownership - Direct, Joint Financing4.250%
Farm Ownership - Down Payment2.250%
Emergency Loan - Amount of Actual Loss3.750%

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.

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PLC, 2026 FSA table of Oct 30, 2026

CropReference priceSeason avg pricePLC 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 Craighead County

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Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

Arkansas crop and pasture condition

Arkansas statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is on pace with normal (71% vs 73%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent
Winter Wheat24%31% 45%

Progress

ArkansasThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted71%54%73%
Winter Wheat Emerged35%23%52%
Cotton Harvested97%92%92%

Source: USDA NASS Crop Progress released Nov 9, 2026 (ESMIS), Arkansas rows. Week ending Nov 8, 2026. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Text me Craighead County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Ash Flat Livestock Ash Flat, AR 61 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  2. Arkansas Cattle Auction LLC Searcy, AR 74 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. Cleburne County Livestock Heber Springs, AR 82 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  4. Ozarks Regional Stockyards (feeder cattle) West Plains, MO 93 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  5. Trenton Regional Stockyards Trenton, TN 95 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 Arkansas): Missouri, Oklahoma

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Craighead County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Craighead County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 5 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 Craighead County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Craighead County was in exceptional drought (D4), and the worst part was exceptional drought (D4) on 81% of the county. 48 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 Craighead County?

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

What sale barns are near Craighead County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Ash Flat AR (61 mi), last report Nov 13, 2026; Searcy AR (74 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Heber Springs AR (82 mi), last report Nov 9, 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.