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Jones County, IA

Cattle prices near Jones County, Iowa. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Sigourney IA in Sigourney, IA, about 78 miles away. On Nov 2, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $421.17 per hundredweight on 243 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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Jones County rain, outlook and forecast

As of the Nov 10 Drought Monitor, most of Jones County, IA showed no drought. Rain has run 78% 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 Saturday carries the week's highest rain chance at 75% (high 62°). FSA has not added Jones County to its 2026 LFP list, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Tama IA, 76 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 78% of normal
  • Last 60 days 176% 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 50°, low 29°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 52°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 5 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 56°, low 38°, 0% rain, wind 5–10 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 57°, low 47°, 19% rain, wind 10–15 mph
  5. Thursday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 59°, low 41°, 17% rain, wind 0–10 mph
  6. Friday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 61°, low 50°, 49% rain, wind 0–15 mph
  7. Saturday Rain Showers, high 62°, low 39°, 75% rain, wind 10–15 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 Jones 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.

Jones County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Jones County grew about 2,147 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 123% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,739 pounds per acre. That was the 2nd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 2,200 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 605.

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 Jones 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

Neither Jones County nor any county touching it is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (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.

CropJones CountyNational average
Corn$2.41 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.22 /cwt
($2.36 /bu)
$2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.87 /bu $6.82 /bu
Hard red winter wheat$3.71 /bu $3.72 /bu
Hard red spring wheat$4.02 /bu $3.72 /bu
Soft red winter wheat$3.17 /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 Jones County

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Crop conditions (statewide)

Iowa crop and pasture condition

Iowa 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

IowaThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Corn Harvested72%66%89%

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

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Tama Livestock Auction (feeder cattle) Tama, IA 76 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Sep 14, 2026
  2. Keoco Auction Company LLC (feeder cattle) Sigourney, IA 78 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 2, 2026
  3. Bloomfield Livestock Market (feeder cattle) Bloomfield, IA 117 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 4, 2026
  4. Russell Livestock Market (feeder cattle) Russell, IA 134 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  5. Unionville Livestock Market Unionville, MO 150 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Oct 27, 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

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Jones 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 Jones County this week?

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

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

What sale barns are near Jones County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Tama IA (76 mi), last report Sep 14, 2026; Sigourney IA (78 mi), last report Nov 2, 2026; Bloomfield IA (117 mi), last report Nov 4, 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.