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Jones County, SD

Cattle prices near Jones County, South Dakota. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Fort Pierre SD in Fort Pierre, SD, about 32 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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Jones County rain, outlook and forecast

As of the Nov 10 Drought Monitor, most of Jones County, SD showed no drought; four weeks earlier 11% of the county was abnormally dry (D0) or worse, now 0%. Rain has run 239% of normal over the last 30 days (well above normal); Friday carries the week's highest rain chance at 47% (high 50°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (60% chance of above-normal rain). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Jones County with up to 2 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Fort Pierre SD, 32 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 239% 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 41°, 0% rain, wind 16–29 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 62°, low 43°, 0% rain, wind 15–20 mph
  3. Tuesday Partly Sunny, high 58°, low 42°, 0% rain, wind 14–26 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 54°, low 33°, 9% rain, wind 13–28 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 48°, low 37°, 7% rain, wind 8–21 mph
  6. Friday Chance Light Rain, high 50°, low 33°, 47% rain, wind 16–28 mph
  7. Saturday Chance Rain And Snow, high 41°, low 26°, 45% rain, wind 16–29 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 2,109 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 125% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,684 pounds per acre. That was the 2nd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 2,143 pounds per acre; worst: 1988 at 1,043.

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 IRS list

Jones 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)

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$2.30 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.02 /cwt
($2.25 /bu)
$2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.37 /bu $6.82 /bu
Hard red winter wheat$3.37 /bu $3.72 /bu
Hard red spring wheat$3.87 /bu $3.72 /bu
Durum wheat$5.67 /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)

South Dakota crop and pasture condition

South Dakota statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is on pace with normal (98% vs 98%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor
FairGood or
excellent
Winter Wheat16%40% 44%

Progress

South DakotaThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted98%97%98%
Winter Wheat Emerged91%85%83%
Sorghum Harvested68%63%86%
Corn Harvested68%63%85%

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

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Ft. Pierre Livestock Auction Fort Pierre, SD 32 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  2. Philip Livestock Auction Philip, SD 49 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. Valentine Livestock Auction Valentine, NE 75 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  4. Gordon Livestock Market Gordon, NE 110 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  5. Mobridge Livestock Exchange Mobridge, SD 110 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 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?

Yes. Jones County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 2 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 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 South Dakota; 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: Fort Pierre SD (32 mi), last report Nov 13, 2026; Philip SD (49 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Valentine (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.