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McPherson County, NE

Cattle prices near McPherson County, Nebraska. The closest sale barn with a recent report is North Platte in North Platte, NE, about 41 miles away. On Nov 3, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $445.93 per hundredweight on 457 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: McPherson 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 ModerateD1 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county North Platte 5-wt steers $446▼ $23 since last sale

McPherson County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of McPherson County, NE was in moderate drought (D1) on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map; 100% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, the same as four weeks earlier. Rain has run 186% of normal over the last 30 days (well above normal) and 150% over 90 days, so the past month has been wetter than the season so far; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (60% chance of above-normal rain) and the NWS forecast peaks at a 59% rain chance on Friday (high 56°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes McPherson County with up to 4 monthly payments, and North Platte is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 41 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 186% of normal
  • Last 60 days not read yet
  • Last 90 days 150% 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 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 51°, low 31°, 1% rain, wind 15–25 mph
  2. Monday Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny, high 54°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 15–20 mph
  3. Tuesday Partly Sunny, high 53°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 15–30 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 57°, low 29°, 3% rain, wind 5–30 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 52°, low 37°, 11% rain, wind 5–20 mph
  6. Friday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 56°, low 31°, 59% rain, wind 10–25 mph
  7. Saturday Chance Rain And Snow Showers, high 45°, low 24°, 35% rain, wind 10–30 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 McPherson 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.

McPherson County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in McPherson County grew about 1,957 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 124% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,574 pounds per acre. That was the 3rd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 2,020 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 841.

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 McPherson 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

McPherson 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
North Platte 41 miNov 3$446
Ogallala 47 miNov 12$450
Imperial 83 miNov 6$432
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

North Platte 41 mi

North Platte, NE
Sale of Nov 3, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb145414.17$1,860
Heifers 500-599 lb102391.73$2,150
Heifers 600-699 lb8325.00$2,110
Steers 400-499 lb212484.67$2,180
Steers 500-599 lb457445.93$2,450
Steers 600-699 lb350384.95$2,500
Steers 700-799 lb13355.50$2,670

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Ogallala 47 mi

Ogallala, NE
Sale of Nov 12, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb311453.24$2,040
Heifers 500-599 lb316386.55$2,130
Heifers 600-699 lb79343.29$2,230
Heifers 700-799 lb145342.48$2,570
Steers 400-499 lb346514.18$2,310
Steers 500-599 lb903450.25$2,480
Steers 600-699 lb426398.90$2,590
Steers 700-799 lb91377.77$2,830

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Imperial 83 mi

Imperial, NE
Sale of Nov 6, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb70420.52$1,890
Heifers 500-599 lb124383.65$2,110
Heifers 600-699 lb34350.00$2,280
Steers 400-499 lb47477.49$2,150
Steers 500-599 lb68431.85$2,380
Steers 600-699 lb101397.27$2,580

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

13 more within 200 mi: Valentine (90 mi), Lexington (93 mi), Gordon (97 mi), Burwell (103 mi), Bassett (104 mi), Kearney (125 mi), Ericson (126 mi), Sterling (129 mi), Crawford (138 mi), Torrington WY (160 mi), Brush (163 mi), Philip SD (168 mi), Fort Pierre SD (191 mi).

Text me McPherson County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. North Platte Stockyards North Platte, NE 41 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 3, 2026
  2. Ogallala Livestock Auction Ogallala, NE 47 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  3. Imperial Auction Market Imperial, NE 83 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 6, 2026
  4. Valentine Livestock Auction Valentine, NE 90 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  5. Lexington Livestock Market Lexington, NE 93 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

Other barns nearby (not USDA-reported)

These barns are not in a USDA AMS report, so Cownty shows no prices for them. Sale days and phones come from the barns' own sites or public listings; call the barn to confirm. More barns

Printable county brief (PDF) · Everything on one page · Hay prices in Nebraska

Common questions and nearby counties

Is McPherson County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. McPherson 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 McPherson County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of McPherson County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 100% 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 McPherson County?

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

What sale barns are near McPherson County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: North Platte (41 mi), last report Nov 3, 2026; Ogallala (47 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026; Imperial (83 mi), last report Nov 6, 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.