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Hitchcock County, NE

Cattle prices near Hitchcock County, Nebraska. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Imperial in Imperial, NE, about 39 miles away. On Nov 6, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $431.85 per hundredweight on 68 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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Drought Abnormally dryD0 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 5 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Imperial 5-wt steers $432▼ $17 since last sale

Hitchcock County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Hitchcock County, NE abnormally dry (D0); 63% of the county is abnormally dry (D0) or worse, the same as four weeks earlier. Hitchcock County has had 134% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 173% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; Friday carries the week's highest rain chance at 27% (high 67°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (50% chance of above-normal rain). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Hitchcock County with up to 5 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Imperial, 39 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 134% of normal
  • Last 60 days not read yet
  • Last 90 days 173% 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 wetter than normal (50% chance of above-normal rain)
  • 8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28) Leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain)

NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 14, 2026. Source.

Next 7 days

  1. Today Patchy Fog, high 52°, low 35°, 1% rain, wind 10–15 mph
  2. Monday Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny, high 55°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 10–15 mph
  3. Tuesday Partly Sunny, high 61°, low 45°, 0% rain, wind 15–20 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 66°, low 31°, 5% rain, wind 0–15 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 56°, low 42°, 5% rain, wind 0–15 mph
  6. Friday Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 67°, low 37°, 27% rain, wind 15–25 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 53°, low 27°, 5% rain, wind 5–20 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 Hitchcock 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.

Hitchcock County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Hitchcock County grew about 1,879 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 117% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,607 pounds per acre. That was the 4th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 1,969 pounds per acre; worst: 2002 at 943.

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 Hitchcock 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

Hitchcock 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
Imperial 39 miNov 6$432
North Platte 67 miNov 3$446
Ogallala 75 miNov 12$450
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

Imperial 39 mi

Imperial, NE
Sale of Nov 6, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb70420.52$1,890
Heifers 500-599 lb124383.65$2,110
Heifers 600-699 lb34350.00$2,280
Steers 400-499 lb47477.49$2,150
Steers 500-599 lb68431.85$2,380
Steers 600-699 lb101397.27$2,580

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

North Platte 67 mi

North Platte, NE
Sale of Nov 3, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb145414.17$1,860
Heifers 500-599 lb102391.73$2,150
Heifers 600-699 lb8325.00$2,110
Steers 400-499 lb212484.67$2,180
Steers 500-599 lb457445.93$2,450
Steers 600-699 lb350384.95$2,500
Steers 700-799 lb13355.50$2,670

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Ogallala 75 mi

Ogallala, NE
Sale of Nov 12, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb311453.24$2,040
Heifers 500-599 lb316386.55$2,130
Heifers 600-699 lb79343.29$2,230
Heifers 700-799 lb145342.48$2,570
Steers 400-499 lb346514.18$2,310
Steers 500-599 lb903450.25$2,480
Steers 600-699 lb426398.90$2,590
Steers 700-799 lb91377.77$2,830

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

10 more within 200 mi: Lexington (80 mi), Kearney (109 mi), Sterling (117 mi), Brush (137 mi), Burwell (149 mi), Ericson (166 mi), Dodge City (177 mi), Bassett (184 mi), Valentine (188 mi), Gordon (191 mi).

Text me Hitchcock County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Imperial Auction Market Imperial, NE 39 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 6, 2026
  2. North Platte Stockyards North Platte, NE 67 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 3, 2026
  3. Ogallala Livestock Auction Ogallala, NE 75 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  4. Lexington Livestock Market Lexington, NE 80 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  5. Huss Livestock Market Kearney, NE 109 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

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 · Hay prices in Nebraska

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Hitchcock County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Hitchcock 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 Hitchcock County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Hitchcock County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 63% 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 Hitchcock County?

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

What sale barns are near Hitchcock County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Imperial (39 mi), last report Nov 6, 2026; North Platte (67 mi), last report Nov 3, 2026; Ogallala (75 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.