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Highland County, VA

Cattle prices near Highland County, Virginia. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Monterey VA in Monterey, VA, about 3 miles away. On Oct 21, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $387.40 per hundredweight on 50 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 3 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Monterey VA 5-wt steers $387per cwt

Highland County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Highland County, VA showed no drought, though 5% at abnormally dry (D0); 5% of the county is abnormally dry (D0) or worse, the same as four weeks earlier. Over 90 days rain is at 74% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 11% (well below normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans drier than normal (33% chance of below-normal rain) and no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 15% rain chance. Highland County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 3 monthly payments, and Monterey VA is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 3 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 11% of normal
  • Last 60 days 95% of normal
  • Last 90 days 74% 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 drier than normal (33% chance of below-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 Scattered Snow Showers then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 42°, low 28°, 15% rain, wind 8–12 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 51°, low 24°, 2% rain, wind 5–6 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 57°, low 28°, 0% rain, wind 2 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 61°, low 32°, 0% rain, wind 2–3 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 62°, low 33°, 0% rain, wind 3–5 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 62°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 2–5 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 61°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 2–6 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 Highland 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.

Highland County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Highland County grew about 2,958 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 111% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,665 pounds per acre. That was the 5th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 3,162 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,440.

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 Highland 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

Highland 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.

CropHighland CountyNational average
Corn$2.56 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.58 /cwt
($2.56 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.93 /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 Highland County

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Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

Virginia crop and pasture condition

Virginia statewide, not just your county. From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent

Progress

VirginiaThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Cotton Harvested63%48%63%

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

Text me Highland County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Monterey Stockyard LLC Monterey, VA 3 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Oct 21, 2026
  2. Shenandoah Valley Livestock Harrisonburg, VA 38 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 7, 2026
  3. Rockingham Livestock Harrisonburg, VA 38 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  4. Buckhannon Stockyards Buckhannon, WV 56 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Oct 28, 2026
  5. South Branch Valley Livestock Exchange Moorefield, WV 58 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Oct 31, 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 Virginia): Kentucky, Tennessee

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Highland County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Highland 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.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Nov 5, 2026

What is the drought level in Highland County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Highland County was in no drought, and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) 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 Highland County?

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

What sale barns are near Highland County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Monterey VA (3 mi), last report Oct 21, 2026; Harrisonburg VA (Shenandoah) (38 mi), last report Nov 7, 2026; Harrisonburg VA (Rockingham) (38 mi), last report Nov 12, 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.