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Jefferson County, AL

Cattle prices near Jefferson County, Alabama. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Ashville AL in Ashville, AL, about 41 miles away. The latest report is dated Nov 9 (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 Kilpatrick AL 5-wt steers $410▲ $21 since last sale

Jefferson County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Jefferson County, AL showed no drought on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, though 30% at abnormally dry (D0); 30% of the county is abnormally dry (D0) or worse, the same as four weeks earlier. Jefferson County has had 39% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 68% 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 3% rain chance. Jefferson County is not on FSA's 2026 LFP list yet, and Ashville AL is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 41 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 39% of normal
  • Last 60 days 77% of normal
  • Last 90 days 68% 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 (33% chance of above-normal rain)

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny, high 61°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 0–10 mph
  2. Monday Patchy Frost then Sunny, high 63°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  3. Tuesday Patchy Frost then Sunny, high 65°, low 36°, 0% rain, wind 5–10 mph
  4. Wednesday Patchy Frost then Sunny, high 69°, low 41°, 1% rain, wind 5–10 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 71°, low 43°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 72°, low 43°, 1% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 73°, low 48°, 3% rain, wind 0–5 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 Jefferson 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.

Jefferson County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Jefferson County grew about 1,726 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 91% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,904 pounds per acre. That was the 14th lowest of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 1994 at 2,425 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,079.

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 Jefferson 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

Jefferson 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)

Drought pasture pay (LFP)

Not on FSA's 2026 list as of the latest file.

FSA "Counties & Pasture Types Eligible for 2026 LFP", file dated Nov 5, 2026 (download). FSA decides eligibility. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: How LFP works and who qualifies

Guide: ELAP and LIP basics

USDA disaster declarations

  • Dec 29, 2025 · Drought
    Neighboring county declared (counts for Jefferson) · crop year 2025
  • Sep 15, 2025 · Excessive Rain, Moisture, Humidity
    Neighboring county declared (counts for Jefferson) · crop year 2025

"Declared" means USDA named this county. "Neighboring" means it touches a declared county. Either way, FSA emergency loans can open for about 8 months. FSA designation files (dated Jan 28, 2026). Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: What a disaster designation means

CRP emergency haying and grazing

Not on the list Jefferson County is not on FSA's emergency haying and grazing list as of Nov 5, 2026. Non-emergency haying and grazing may still be allowed outside the primary nesting season.

Before haying and grazing, contact your FSA county office to see if your county remains eligible and/or obtain a modified conservation plan. This list is cumulative for the year and current local conditions may have changed.

Source: FSA eligible-county table posted Nov 5, 2026 · map · FSA program page. FSA posts a new file every Thursday. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: CRP emergency haying and grazing rules

Screwworm (Texas Animal Health Commission)

Data pending. animal-health alerts are read for Texas (TAHC) and Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico (state ag departments); Alabama's state veterinarian isn't read yet

Guide: Screwworm: what to know

New FSA programs: watch list
DateScopeReleaseFlag
Nov 4, 2026MississippiUSDA Designates one Tennessee Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
Nov 4, 2026Hawaii and Pacific IslandsUSDA Extends Application Deadline for Emergency Conservation Program Assistance for Guam and CNMI Counties for Typhoon Bavi Impacts
Nov 4, 2026NebraskaUSDA Authorizes Deadline Extension for Emergency Conservation Program in Several Wildfire-Impacted Counties
Nov 4, 2026FloridaUSDA Designates 9 Alabama Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
Nov 3, 2026AlabamaUSDA Designates 9 Alabama Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
Text me Jefferson County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Ashville Stockyard Ashville, AL 41 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  2. Cullman Stockyard Cullman, AL 43 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. Arab Livestock Market Arab, AL 58 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Sand Mountain Stockyards Inc. Kilpatrick, AL 68 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  5. Clay County Livestock Auction Lineville, AL 68 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

Printable county brief (PDF) · Everything on one page · Hay prices in Alabama

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Jefferson 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 Jefferson County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Jefferson County was in no drought, and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 30% 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 Jefferson County?

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

What sale barns are near Jefferson County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Ashville AL (41 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Cullman AL (43 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Arab AL (58 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.