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Macon County, NC

Cattle prices near Macon County, North Carolina. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Eastanollee GA in Eastanollee, GA, about 45 miles away. On Nov 9, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $393.73 per hundredweight on 2 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Macon County is on FSA's list (since Sep 1, 2026). Check with your FSA county office first. Details · FSA list as of Nov 5, 2026.
Drought No droughtNone · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Canton NC 5-wt steers $372per cwt

Macon County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Macon County, NC with no drought, though 23% at abnormally dry (D0); four weeks earlier 100% of the county was in moderate drought (D1) or worse, now 0%. Macon County has had 85% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 89% over 90 days; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain and no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 1% rain chance. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Macon County with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Canton NC, 42 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 85% of normal
  • Last 60 days 104% of normal
  • Last 90 days 89% 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 (40% chance of above-normal rain)

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Clear, low 23°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  2. Sunday Sunny, high 56°, low 26°, 0% rain, wind 1 mph
  3. Monday Sunny, high 60°, low 26°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
  4. Tuesday Sunny, high 64°, low 26°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
  5. Wednesday Sunny, high 66°, low 29°, 0% rain, wind 0–1 mph
  6. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 70°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
  7. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 71°, low 35°, 1% rain, wind 0 mph

National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 14, 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 Macon 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.

Macon County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Macon County grew about 2,605 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 102% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,545 pounds per acre. That was the 14th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 1998 at 2,980 pounds per acre; worst: 2010 at 1,950.

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 Macon 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

Macon 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.

CropMacon CountyNational average
Corn$2.59 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.58 /cwt
($2.56 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.95 /bu $6.82 /bu
Soft red winter wheat$3.21 /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 Macon County

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Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

North Carolina crop and pasture condition

North Carolina statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is ahead of normal (61% vs 53%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent
Winter Wheat9%14% 77%

Progress

North CarolinaThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted61%43%53%
Winter Wheat Emerged33%19%33%
Cotton Harvested56%41%58%
Corn Harvested99%98%98%

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

Text me Macon County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. WNC Regional Livestock Center Canton, NC 42 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 14, 2026
  2. Eastanollee Livestock Eastanollee, GA 45 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  3. Franklin County Livestock Carnesville, GA 55 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Knoxville Livestock Auction Center Inc. Knoxville, TN 64 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  5. Upstate Livestock Exchange Williamston, SC 65 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 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 · Nearest USDA hay reports (none for North Carolina): Tennessee

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Macon County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Macon County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 4 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 Macon County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Macon County was in no drought, and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 23% 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 Macon County?

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

What sale barns are near Macon County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Canton NC (42 mi), last report Nov 14, 2026; Eastanollee GA (45 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Carnesville GA (55 mi), last report Nov 10, 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.