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McCone County, MT

Cattle prices near McCone County, Montana. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Miles City MT in Miles City, MT, about 85 miles away. On Nov 10, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $426.74 per hundredweight on 605 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) Eligibleup to 2 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Miles City MT 5-wt steers $427per cwt

McCone County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of McCone County, MT with no drought, though a sliver (<1%) at abnormally dry (D0); 0% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, down from 1% four weeks earlier. Rain has run 211% of normal over the last 30 days (well above normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain and the best rain chance this week is 50% on Tuesday (high 49°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes McCone County with up to 2 monthly payments, and Miles City MT is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 85 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 211% 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 toward near-normal rain
  • 8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28) Leans drier than normal (33% chance of below-normal rain)

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Sunny, high 57°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 6–9 mph
  2. Monday Partly Sunny, high 58°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 2–7 mph
  3. Tuesday Mostly Cloudy, high 49°, low 31°, 50% rain, wind 3–9 mph
  4. Wednesday Chance Rain And Snow, high 40°, low 26°, 50% rain, wind 2–16 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Cloudy, high 41°, low 27°, 16% rain, wind 2–8 mph
  6. Friday Slight Chance Rain And Snow, high 40°, low 24°, 23% rain, wind 3–8 mph
  7. Saturday Slight Chance Light Snow then Mostly Cloudy, high 37°, low 21°, 18% rain, wind 5–7 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 McCone 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.

McCone County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in McCone County grew about 1,074 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 117% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 919 pounds per acre. That was the 6th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 1,213 pounds per acre; worst: 1988 at 559.

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 McCone 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

McCone 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.

CropMcCone CountyNational average
Corn$2.49 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$3.85 /cwt
($2.16 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.32 /bu $6.82 /bu
Hard red winter wheat$3.23 /bu $3.72 /bu
Hard red spring wheat$3.78 /bu $3.72 /bu
Soft white wheat$3.55 /bu $3.72 /bu
Durum wheat$5.55 /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 McCone County

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Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

Montana crop and pasture condition

Montana statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is on pace with normal (97% vs 97%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent
Winter Wheat1%36% 63%

Progress

MontanaThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted97%95%97%
Winter Wheat Emerged84%75%83%

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

Text me McCone County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Miles City Livestock Commission Miles City, MT 85 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  2. Stockmen's Livestock Exchange (feeder cattle) Dickinson, ND 148 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  3. Billings Livestock Commission Billings, MT 184 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  4. Public Auction Yards Billings, MT 184 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  5. St. Onge Livestock Ltd St. Onge, SD 234 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 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 Montana

Common questions and nearby counties

Is McCone County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. McCone 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 McCone County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of McCone County was in no drought, and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on a sliver (<1%) 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 McCone County?

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

What sale barns are near McCone County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Miles City MT (85 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Dickinson ND (148 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026; Billings MT (BLC) (184 mi), last report Nov 9, 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.