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Nelson County, ND

No sale barn with a published report is within 100 miles of Nelson County, North Dakota. This page still has drought, programs and weather for the county when those are loaded.

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Nelson 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 No droughtNone · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 3 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Napoleon ND 5-wt steers $431▲ $26 since last sale

Nelson County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Nelson County, ND with no drought, though 8% at abnormally dry (D0); 0% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, down from 8% four weeks earlier. Rain has run 68% of normal over the last 30 days (below normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (40% chance of above-normal rain) and the NWS forecast peaks at a 52% rain chance on Wednesday (high 46°). Nelson County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 3 monthly payments, and Napoleon ND is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 122 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 68% 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 (40% chance of above-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 Sunny, high 49°, low 35°, 2% rain, wind 10–23 mph
  2. Monday Partly Sunny, high 54°, low 36°, 0% rain, wind 8–13 mph
  3. Tuesday Mostly Cloudy, high 50°, low 36°, 5% rain, wind 7–16 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Cloudy, high 46°, low 34°, 52% rain, wind 7–22 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Cloudy, high 38°, low 28°, 11% rain, wind 6–22 mph
  6. Friday Cloudy then Chance Light Rain, high 36°, low 28°, 52% rain, wind 7–23 mph
  7. Saturday Chance Rain And Snow, high 32°, low 21°, 39% rain, wind 9–30 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 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 1,659 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 119% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,394 pounds per acre. That was the 6th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 1,833 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 598.

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)

  • Dec 1, 2026in 16 days
    Last day to buy 2027 pasture rain insurance (PRF)
    Crop insurance (RMA)
    Details and source
    Plans: Rainfall Index
    Date posted: USDA crop insurance (RMA)
    Source: USDA RMA · more · checked Aug 28, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.
    FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.206(a)
    Details and source
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.206(a) (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP): notice of loss, application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.
    FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.107
    Details and source
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.107 (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): notice of loss, application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.
    FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.305(b)
    Details and source
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.305(b) (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026

All deadlines and report dates · FSA disaster-program deadlines are pending (no official feed).

Guide: PRF insurance and the Dec 1 deadline

Guide: How to apply for EQIP or CSP

Guide: Ag land property tax in OK, KS and NM

Text me Nelson County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Napoleon Livestock (feeder cattle) Napoleon, ND 122 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  2. Kist Livestock (feeder cattle) Mandan, ND 146 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  3. Herried Livestock Market Herreid, SD 169 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  4. Hub City Livestock Auction Aberdeen, SD 170 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  5. Mobridge Livestock Exchange Mobridge, SD 195 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 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 North Dakota): South Dakota, Montana

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 no drought, and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 8% 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 North Dakota; 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: Napoleon ND (122 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026; Mandan ND (146 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Herreid SD (169 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.