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Mellette County, SD

Cattle prices near Mellette County, South Dakota. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Valentine in Valentine, NE, about 50 miles away. On Nov 12, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $449.12 per hundredweight on 537 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 Valentine 5-wt steers $449▲ $19 since last sale

Mellette County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Mellette County, SD showed no drought; four weeks earlier 86% of the county was abnormally dry (D0) or worse, now 0%. Rain has run 241% of normal over the last 30 days (well above normal); the NWS forecast peaks at a 61% rain chance on Friday (high 51°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (60% chance of above-normal rain). Mellette County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 2 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Valentine, 50 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 241% 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 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 60°, low 41°, 0% rain, wind 18–24 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 65°, low 43°, 0% rain, wind 15–20 mph
  3. Tuesday Partly Sunny, high 60°, low 44°, 0% rain, wind 10–26 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 58°, low 34°, 7% rain, wind 10–32 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 46°, low 37°, 5% rain, wind 7–13 mph
  6. Friday Chance Light Rain, high 51°, low 34°, 61% rain, wind 12–25 mph
  7. Saturday Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Rain And Snow, high 41°, low 27°, 35% rain, wind 9–29 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 Mellette 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.

Mellette County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Mellette County grew about 2,161 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 122% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,777 pounds per acre. That was the 3rd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 2,219 pounds per acre; worst: 1988 at 1,291.

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 Mellette 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

Mellette 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 Mellette County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Valentine Livestock Auction Valentine, NE 50 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  2. Philip Livestock Auction Philip, SD 55 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. Ft. Pierre Livestock Auction Fort Pierre, SD 57 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  4. Gordon Livestock Market Gordon, NE 91 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  5. Bassett Livestock Auction Bassett, NE 92 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 · Hay prices in South Dakota

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Mellette County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Mellette 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 Mellette County this week?

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

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

What sale barns are near Mellette County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Valentine (50 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026; Philip SD (55 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Fort Pierre SD (57 mi), last report Nov 13, 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.