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Mason County, WV

Cattle prices near Mason County, West Virginia. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Ripley WV in Ripley, WV, about 18 miles away. On Nov 7, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $358.08 per hundredweight on 46 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 Ripley WV 5-wt steers $358per cwt

Mason County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Mason County, WV showed no drought on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map. Over 90 days rain is at 140% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 50% (below normal); the best rain chance this week is 33% on today (high 50°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain. Mason County is not on FSA's 2026 LFP list yet, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Ripley WV, 18 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 50% of normal
  • Last 60 days 121% of normal
  • Last 90 days 140% 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 Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers, high 50°, low 31°, 33% rain, wind 2–5 mph
  2. Monday Mostly Sunny, high 54°, low 27°, 0% rain, wind 0–1 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 57°, low 27°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 62°, low 30°, 0% rain, wind 0–1 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 63°, low 36°, 1% rain, wind 1–5 mph
  6. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 65°, low 38°, 0% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 68°, low 42°, 4% rain, wind 1–5 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 Mason 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.

Mason County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Mason County grew about 2,945 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 128% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,305 pounds per acre. That was the 1st best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2025 at 2,945 pounds per acre; worst: 1989 at 1,549.

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 Mason 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

Mason 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, past 12 months

0% of the county in severe drought or worse.

How to read this

Each band is how much of the county was in that drought level that week. Darker = worse. D2 (severe) and darker can trigger USDA drought pay.

Right now: 0% of the county is in severe drought or worse; some of it has been for 0 weeks running. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Nov 10, 2026.

Guide: What D0–D4 mean

See the drought map

Text me Mason County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Jackson County Regional Ripley, WV 18 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 7, 2026
  2. Weston Livestock Marketing Weston, WV 86 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Oct 31, 2026
  3. Farmers Stockyards Flemingsburg, KY 95 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Buckhannon Stockyards Buckhannon, WV 98 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Oct 28, 2026
  5. Blue Grass Stockyards Mt. Sterling, KY 115 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 · Nearest USDA hay reports (none for West Virginia): Kentucky

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Mason 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 Mason County this week?

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

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

What sale barns are near Mason County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Ripley WV (18 mi), last report Nov 7, 2026; Weston WV (86 mi), last report Oct 31, 2026; Flemingsburg KY (95 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.