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Howard County, MO

Cattle prices near Howard County, Missouri. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Kingdom City MO in Kingdom City, MO, about 43 miles away. On Nov 9, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $411.61 per hundredweight on 156 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) Not listedFSA 2026 list Burn ban Checkcall the county Kingdom City MO 5-wt steers $412per cwt

Howard County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Howard County, MO with no drought; four weeks earlier 13% of the county was abnormally dry (D0) or worse, now 0%. Rain has run 65% of normal over the last 30 days (below normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (50% chance of above-normal rain) and the best rain chance this week is 45% on Saturday (high 67°). Howard County is not on FSA's 2026 LFP list yet, and Kingdom City MO is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 43 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 65% of normal
  • Last 60 days 72% 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 (50% 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 Sunny, high 52°, low 30°, 0% rain, wind 0–3 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 56°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 1–5 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 59°, low 40°, 0% rain, wind 3–8 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 63°, low 49°, 17% rain, wind 7–13 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 66°, low 49°, 12% rain, wind 0–7 mph
  6. Friday Partly Sunny, high 69°, low 53°, 16% rain, wind 3–13 mph
  7. Saturday Chance Light Rain, high 67°, low 41°, 45% rain, wind 5–14 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 Howard 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.

Howard County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Howard County grew about 2,954 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 104% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,843 pounds per acre. That was the 12th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2004 at 3,283 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,050.

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 Howard 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

A county next to Howard County is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (Boone County, MO). The IRS counts your county plus every county touching it.

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.

CropHoward CountyNational average
Corn$2.46 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.25 /cwt
($2.38 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.87 /bu $6.82 /bu
Hard red winter wheat$3.75 /bu $3.72 /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 Howard County

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Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

Missouri crop and pasture condition

Missouri statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is on pace with normal (81% vs 80%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent
Winter Wheat2%25% 73%

Progress

MissouriThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted81%74%80%
Winter Wheat Emerged63%50%57%
Cotton Harvested93%87%85%
Corn Harvested89%86%89%

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

Text me Howard County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Callaway Livestock Center Kingdom City, MO 43 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  2. Lolli Brothers Livestock Market Macon, MO 43 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. New Cambria Livestock Auction New Cambria, MO 44 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  4. Tina Livestock Market Tina, MO 48 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  5. Windsor Livestock Auction Windsor, MO 61 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 · Hay prices in Missouri

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Howard County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Not on FSA's 2026 LFP county list as of Nov 5, 2026. FSA updates the list as drought changes.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Nov 5, 2026

What is the drought level in Howard County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Howard County was in no drought, and the worst part was no drought on 0% 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 Howard County?

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

What sale barns are near Howard County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Kingdom City MO (43 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Macon MO (43 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; New Cambria MO (44 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Apples 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.