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McDowell County, WV

Cattle prices near McDowell County, West Virginia. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Dublin VA in Dublin, VA, about 57 miles away. On Sep 23, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $379.05 per hundredweight on 9 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 3 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Dublin VA 5-wt steers $379per cwt

McDowell County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of McDowell County, WV showed no drought on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map. Over 90 days rain is at 108% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 29% (well below normal); today carries the week's highest rain chance at 23% (high 46°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes McDowell County with up to 3 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Dublin VA, 57 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 29% of normal
  • Last 60 days 137% of normal
  • Last 90 days 108% 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 Chance Snow Showers then Slight Chance Light Rain, high 46°, low 30°, 23% rain, wind 2–6 mph
  2. Monday Mostly Sunny, high 54°, low 25°, 0% rain, wind 0–3 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 62°, low 29°, 0% rain, wind 2 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 66°, low 32°, 0% rain, wind 0–3 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 66°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 68°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 0–3 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 70°, low 40°, 3% rain, wind 3 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 McDowell 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.

McDowell County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in McDowell County grew about 707 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 187% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 379 pounds per acre. That was the 3rd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 1993 at 1,055 pounds per acre; worst: 1997 at 158.

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 McDowell 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

McDowell 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)

5-wt steers, nearest barns

Steers 500–599 lb, $/cwt, weekly average.

BarnLast sale5-wt steers
Dublin VA 57 miSep 23$379
North Wilkesboro NC 88 miNov 11$353
Roanoke VA 94 miNov 9$350
How to read this

Each line is one barn's head-weighted average for 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) in that week; gaps are weeks with no sale or no lots that size. Past sales, not a bid.

Dollars per hundredweight ($/cwt, per 100 lb), calculated from USDA AMS Market News sale reports (Medium & Large 1 and 1-2). Not a USDA-published average. ≈ $/head = $/cwt × the middle of the weight class ÷ 100.

Guide: How to read a USDA sale barn report

Price history · Barn map · Fed vs feeder cattle

All weights at the 3 nearest barns

Dublin VA 57 mi

Dublin, VA
Sale of Sep 23, 2026 old
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 500-599 lb5332.60$1,830
Heifers 600-699 lb15305.80$1,990
Heifers 700-799 lb25288.50$2,160
Steers 500-599 lb9379.05$2,080
Steers 600-699 lb16350.88$2,280
Steers 700-799 lb16316.06$2,370

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

North Wilkesboro NC 88 mi

North Wilkesboro, NC
Sale of Nov 11, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb8361.50$1,630
Heifers 500-599 lb2320.00$1,760
Heifers 600-699 lb4268.49$1,750
Heifers 700-799 lb1240.00$1,800
Steers 400-499 lb6408.80$1,840
Steers 500-599 lb10353.40$1,940
Steers 700-799 lb9310.06$2,330

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Roanoke VA 94 mi

Roanoke, VA
Sale of Nov 9, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb4340.50$1,530
Heifers 500-599 lb9326.00$1,790
Heifers 600-699 lb1275.00$1,790
Heifers 700-799 lb10275.20$2,060
Steers 400-499 lb2354.00$1,590
Steers 500-599 lb9350.22$1,930
Steers 600-699 lb4329.00$2,140
Steers 700-799 lb2286.50$2,150

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

31 more within 200 mi: Ripley WV (99 mi), Greeneville TN (106 mi), Turnersburg NC (112 mi), Moneta VA (113 mi), Weston WV (132 mi), Flemingsburg KY (134 mi), Mt. Sterling KY (134 mi), Monterey VA (134 mi), Buckhannon WV (136 mi), Rustburg VA (141 mi), Canton NC (144 mi), Shelby NC (145 mi), Richmond KY (147 mi), Paris KY (154 mi), Knoxville TN (160 mi), Lexington KY (162 mi), Somerset KY (163 mi), Stanford KY (165 mi), Siler City NC (167 mi), Harrisonburg VA (Shenandoah) (168 mi), Harrisonburg VA (Rockingham) (168 mi), Norwood NC (172 mi), Terra Alta WV (183 mi), Moorefield WV (187 mi), Russell Springs KY (190 mi), Owenton KY (191 mi), Springfield KY (196 mi), Williamston SC (196 mi), Albany KY (198 mi), Sweetwater TN (199 mi), Radiant VA (199 mi).

Text me McDowell County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Pulaski Livestock Dublin, VA 57 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Sep 23, 2026
  2. Wilkes Livestock Exchange North Wilkesboro, NC 88 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  3. Roanoke-Hollins Roanoke, VA 94 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  4. Jackson County Regional Ripley, WV 99 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 7, 2026
  5. Volunteer Stockyards Greeneville, TN 106 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 14, 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 McDowell County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. McDowell County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 3 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 McDowell County this week?

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

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Dublin VA (57 mi), last report Sep 23, 2026; North Wilkesboro NC (88 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Roanoke VA (94 mi), last report Nov 9, 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.