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Mercer County, WV

Cattle prices near Mercer County, West Virginia. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Dublin VA in Dublin, VA, about 31 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

Mercer County rain, outlook and forecast

As of the Nov 10 Drought Monitor, most of Mercer County, WV showed no drought. Over 90 days rain is at 108% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 55% (below normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans drier than normal (33% chance of below-normal rain) and the NWS forecast peaks at a 20% rain chance on today (high 41°). Mercer County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 3 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Dublin VA, 31 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 55% 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 drier than normal (33% chance of below-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 Slight Chance Light Rain then Cloudy, high 41°, low 32°, 20% rain, wind 0–7 mph
  2. Monday Mostly Sunny, high 48°, low 24°, 0% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 60°, low 27°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 64°, low 30°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 64°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 0–2 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 65°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 0–2 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 66°, low 38°, 2% rain, wind 0–3 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 Mercer 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.

Mercer County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Mercer County grew about 2,798 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 121% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,307 pounds per acre. That was the 2nd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 2,957 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,605.

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 Mercer 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

Mercer 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 31 miSep 23$379
Roanoke VA 64 miNov 9$350
Moneta VA 83 miNov 7$340
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 31 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

Roanoke VA 64 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

Moneta VA 83 mi

Moneta, VA
Sale of Nov 7, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb9310.00$1,400
Heifers 500-599 lb13275.00$1,510
Heifers 600-699 lb4255.00$1,660
Steers 400-499 lb5350.00$1,580
Steers 500-599 lb3340.00$1,870
Steers 600-699 lb2285.00$1,850

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

27 more within 200 mi: North Wilkesboro NC (85 mi), Ripley WV (103 mi), Turnersburg NC (105 mi), Monterey VA (108 mi), Rustburg VA (111 mi), Weston WV (118 mi), Buckhannon WV (120 mi), Greeneville TN (128 mi), Harrisonburg VA (Shenandoah) (141 mi), Harrisonburg VA (Rockingham) (141 mi), Siler City NC (147 mi), Shelby NC (148 mi), Flemingsburg KY (160 mi), Norwood NC (160 mi), Canton NC (161 mi), Mt. Sterling KY (162 mi), Moorefield WV (164 mi), Terra Alta WV (164 mi), Radiant VA (170 mi), Blackstone VA (172 mi), Richmond KY (176 mi), Paris KY (181 mi), Culpeper VA (185 mi), Knoxville TN (186 mi), Lexington KY (191 mi), Somerset KY (194 mi), Stanford KY (195 mi).

Text me Mercer County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Pulaski Livestock Dublin, VA 31 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Sep 23, 2026
  2. Roanoke-Hollins Roanoke, VA 64 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  3. Springlake Stockyard Moneta, VA 83 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 7, 2026
  4. Wilkes Livestock Exchange North Wilkesboro, NC 85 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  5. Jackson County Regional Ripley, WV 103 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 7, 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 Mercer County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Mercer 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 Mercer County this week?

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

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Dublin VA (31 mi), last report Sep 23, 2026; Roanoke VA (64 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Moneta VA (83 mi), last report Nov 7, 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.