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Hughes County, SD

Cattle prices near Hughes County, South Dakota. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Fort Pierre SD in Fort Pierre, SD, about 20 miles away. On Nov 13, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $462.23 per hundredweight on 2,988 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 Fort Pierre SD 5-wt steers $462▲ $21 since last sale

Hughes County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Hughes County, SD with no drought; four weeks earlier 32% of the county was abnormally dry (D0) or worse, now 0%. Rain has run 304% of normal over the last 30 days (well above normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (60% chance of above-normal rain) and the NWS forecast peaks at a 43% rain chance on Saturday (high 41°). FSA has not added Hughes County to its 2026 LFP list, and Fort Pierre SD is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 20 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 304% of normal
  • Last 60 days not read yet
  • 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 (60% 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 Sunny, high 59°, low 39°, 0% rain, wind 10–25 mph
  2. Monday Patchy Fog then Sunny, high 60°, low 42°, 0% rain, wind 10–15 mph
  3. Tuesday Partly Sunny, high 57°, low 41°, 0% rain, wind 12–23 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 54°, low 34°, 13% rain, wind 10–22 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 46°, low 36°, 8% rain, wind 8–15 mph
  6. Friday Chance Light Rain, high 50°, low 33°, 42% rain, wind 13–21 mph
  7. Saturday Chance Rain And Snow, high 41°, low 25°, 43% rain, wind 12–23 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 Hughes 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.

Hughes County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Hughes County grew about 2,202 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 141% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,563 pounds per acre. That was the 2nd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 2,218 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 848.

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 Hughes 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

Hughes 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)

  • Dec 1, 2026in 16 days
    Last day to buy 2027 pasture rain insurance (PRF)
    Crop insurance (RMA)
    Details and source
    Plans: Rainfall Index
    Date posted: USDA crop insurance (RMA)
    Source: USDA RMA · more · checked Aug 28, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.
    FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.206(a)
    Details and source
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.206(a) (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP): notice of loss, application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.
    FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.107
    Details and source
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.107 (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): notice of loss, application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.
    FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.305(b)
    Details and source
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.305(b) (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026

All deadlines and report dates · FSA disaster-program deadlines are pending (no official feed).

Guide: PRF insurance and the Dec 1 deadline

Guide: How to apply for EQIP or CSP

Guide: Ag land property tax in OK, KS and NM

Text me Hughes County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Ft. Pierre Livestock Auction Fort Pierre, SD 20 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  2. Mobridge Livestock Exchange Mobridge, SD 83 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  3. Philip Livestock Auction Philip, SD 87 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Herried Livestock Market Herreid, SD 101 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  5. Hub City Livestock Auction Aberdeen, SD 105 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 South Dakota

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Hughes 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 Hughes County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Hughes 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 Hughes County?

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

What sale barns are near Hughes County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Fort Pierre SD (20 mi), last report Nov 13, 2026; Mobridge SD (83 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026; Philip SD (87 mi), last report Nov 10, 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.