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Nelson County, KY

Cattle prices near Nelson County, Kentucky. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Springfield KY in Springfield, KY, about 15 miles away. On Nov 10, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $385.96 per hundredweight on 54 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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Drought Abnormally dryD0 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 3 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Springfield KY 5-wt steers $386per cwt

Nelson County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Nelson County, KY was abnormally dry (D0), with 17% at moderate drought (D1); four weeks earlier 0% of the county was in moderate drought (D1) or worse, now 17%. Over 90 days rain is at 65% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 69% (below normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain and no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 8% rain chance. Nelson County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 3 monthly payments, and Springfield KY is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 15 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 69% of normal
  • Last 60 days 73% of normal
  • Last 90 days 65% 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 toward near-normal rain

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny, high 53°, low 27°, 0% rain, wind 0–6 mph
  2. Monday Patchy Fog then Sunny, high 56°, low 27°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  3. Tuesday Patchy Fog then Sunny, high 60°, low 29°, 0% rain, wind 1 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 64°, low 33°, 0% rain, wind 2 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 66°, low 39°, 0% rain, wind 1–7 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 69°, low 40°, 1% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 70°, low 45°, 8% rain, wind 2–7 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 Nelson 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.

Nelson County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Nelson County grew about 2,913 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 100% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,910 pounds per acre. That was the 18th lowest of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2012 at 3,460 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,789.

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 Nelson 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

Nelson 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
Springfield KY 15 miNov 10$386
Campbellsville KY 32 miNov 14$370
Upton KY 34 miNov 10$361
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

Springfield KY 15 mi

Springfield, KY
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb40362.74$1,630
Heifers 500-599 lb80326.35$1,790
Heifers 600-699 lb44309.59$2,010
Heifers 700-799 lb26290.97$2,180
Steers 400-499 lb5422.00$1,900
Steers 500-599 lb54385.96$2,120
Steers 600-699 lb92362.23$2,350
Steers 700-799 lb105340.42$2,550

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Campbellsville KY 32 mi

Campbellsville, KY
Sale of Nov 14, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb2343.00$1,540
Heifers 500-599 lb1311.00$1,710
Heifers 600-699 lb2282.58$1,840
Heifers 700-799 lb1279.00$2,090
Steers 400-499 lb3376.67$1,700
Steers 500-599 lb3370.00$2,040
Steers 600-699 lb3335.50$2,180

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Upton KY 34 mi

Upton, KY
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb33350.63$1,580
Heifers 500-599 lb46330.87$1,820
Heifers 600-699 lb4300.00$1,950
Heifers 700-799 lb10280.00$2,100
Steers 400-499 lb18405.00$1,820
Steers 500-599 lb22360.62$1,980
Steers 600-699 lb11343.27$2,230
Steers 700-799 lb16335.75$2,520

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

30 more within 200 mi: Stanford KY (48 mi), Harned KY (52 mi), Lexington KY (55 mi), Russell Springs KY (56 mi), Glasgow KY (61 mi), Owenton KY (61 mi), Richmond KY (64 mi), Somerset KY (68 mi), Paris KY (71 mi), Bowling Green KY (United) (78 mi), Bowling Green KY (Cattleman) (78 mi), Albany KY (79 mi), Mt. Sterling KY (85 mi), Owensboro KY (90 mi), Lafayette TN (94 mi), Flemingsburg KY (103 mi), Carthage TN (110 mi), Guthrie KY (123 mi), Hopkinsville KY (129 mi), Crossville TN (130 mi), McMinnville TN (147 mi), Knoxville TN (152 mi), Dickson TN (160 mi), Sweetwater TN (162 mi), Unionville TN (163 mi), Athens TN (169 mi), Ledbetter KY (174 mi), Columbia TN (174 mi), Greeneville TN (185 mi), Fayetteville TN (193 mi).

Text me Nelson County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Washington Co. Livestock Springfield, KY 15 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  2. Blue Grass Stockyards Campbellsville, KY 32 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 14, 2026
  3. Mid-Kentucky Livestock Market Upton, KY 34 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Blue Grass South Stockyards Stanford, KY 48 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  5. United Producers Inc. Harned, KY 52 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 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 Kentucky

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Nelson County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Nelson 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 Nelson County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Nelson County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 17% 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 Nelson County?

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

What sale barns are near Nelson County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Springfield KY (15 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Campbellsville KY (32 mi), last report Nov 14, 2026; Upton KY (34 mi), last report Nov 10, 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.