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Craven County, NC

Cattle prices near Craven County, North Carolina. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Smithfield NC in Smithfield, NC, about 77 miles away. On Nov 12, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $327.54 per hundredweight on 41 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Craven 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 ModerateD1 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Smithfield NC 5-wt steers $328▼ $20 since last sale

Craven County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Craven County, NC was in moderate drought (D1), with 5% at severe drought (D2); week 11 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Rain has run 33% of normal over the last 30 days (well below normal) and 57% 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 toward near-normal rain and no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 8% rain chance. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Craven County with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Smithfield NC, 77 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 33% of normal
  • Last 60 days 53% 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 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 35°, 5% rain, wind 5–6 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 58°, low 33°, 5% rain, wind 5–9 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 64°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 5–7 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 68°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 2–6 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 71°, low 41°, 1% rain, wind 2–3 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 71°, low 43°, 1% rain, wind 3–5 mph
  7. Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 72°, low 47°, 8% rain, wind 5–8 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 Craven 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.

Craven County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Craven County grew about 1,358 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 155% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 876 pounds per acre. That was the 6th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 1993 at 1,645 pounds per acre; worst: 2014 at 395.

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 Craven 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

Craven 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.

CropCraven CountyNational average
Corn$2.59 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.58 /cwt
($2.56 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.85 /bu $6.82 /bu
Soft red winter wheat$3.25 /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 Craven County

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Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

North Carolina crop and pasture condition

North Carolina statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is ahead of normal (61% vs 53%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent
Winter Wheat9%14% 77%

Progress

North CarolinaThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted61%43%53%
Winter Wheat Emerged33%19%33%
Cotton Harvested56%41%58%
Corn Harvested99%98%98%

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

Text me Craven County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Powell Livestock Company Smithfield, NC 77 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  2. Southeastern Auction Co. Inc. Chadbourn, NC 113 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  3. Carolina Stockyards Siler City, NC 141 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  4. Southside Livestock Blackstone, VA 145 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  5. Low Country Livestock Exchange Darlington, SC 168 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 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 · Nearest USDA hay reports (none for North Carolina): Tennessee

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Craven County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Craven 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 Craven County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Craven County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 5% of the county. 11 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 Craven 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 Craven County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Smithfield NC (77 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026; Chadbourn NC (113 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Siler City NC (141 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Blueberries 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.