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New Hanover County, NC

Cattle prices near New Hanover County, North Carolina. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Chadbourn NC in Chadbourn, NC, about 56 miles away. On Nov 9, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $325.47 per hundredweight on 2 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 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Chadbourn NC 5-wt steers $325per cwt

New Hanover County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of New Hanover County, NC was abnormally dry (D0) on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, with 37% at moderate drought (D1); four weeks earlier 7% of the county was in moderate drought (D1) or worse, now 37%. Rain has run 15% of normal over the last 30 days (well below normal) and 77% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain) and no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 1% rain chance. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes New Hanover County with up to 4 monthly payments, and Chadbourn NC is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 56 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 15% of normal
  • Last 60 days 53% of normal
  • Last 90 days 77% 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 (33% chance of above-normal rain)
  • 8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28) Leans wetter than normal (50% chance of above-normal rain)

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Clear, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 6 mph
  2. Sunday Patchy Frost then Sunny, high 58°, low 38°, 0% rain, wind 3–8 mph
  3. Monday Sunny, high 59°, low 39°, 0% rain, wind 6–10 mph
  4. Tuesday Sunny, high 63°, low 40°, 1% rain, wind 7–9 mph
  5. Wednesday Sunny, high 67°, low 42°, 0% rain, wind 6–9 mph
  6. Thursday Sunny, high 71°, low 46°, 1% rain, wind 6–8 mph
  7. Friday Sunny, high 71°, low 47°, 0% rain, wind 6–9 mph

National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 14, 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 New Hanover 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.

New Hanover County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in New Hanover County grew about 1,086 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 93% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,170 pounds per acre. That was the 18th lowest of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 1999 at 1,846 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 454.

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 New Hanover 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

New Hanover 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
Chadbourn NC 56 miNov 9$325
Smithfield NC 97 miNov 12$328
Darlington SC 115 miNov 10–
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

Chadbourn NC 56 mi

Chadbourn, NC
Sale of Nov 9, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb1300.00$1,350
Heifers 500-599 lb2283.57$1,560
Heifers 600-699 lb3285.03$1,850
Steers 500-599 lb2325.47$1,790
Steers 600-699 lb1300.00$1,950
Steers 700-799 lb1272.50$2,040

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Smithfield NC 97 mi

Smithfield, NC
Sale of Nov 12, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb21321.85$1,450
Heifers 500-599 lb69300.21$1,650
Heifers 600-699 lb14257.85$1,680
Heifers 700-799 lb7243.61$1,830
Steers 400-499 lb12346.51$1,560
Steers 500-599 lb41327.54$1,800
Steers 600-699 lb27314.42$2,040
Steers 700-799 lb6315.20$2,360

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Darlington SC 115 mi

Darlington, SC
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb3373.31$1,680
Heifers 500-599 lb1330.00$1,820
Heifers 600-699 lb1300.00$1,950
Heifers 700-799 lb2272.53$2,040
Steers 400-499 lb3413.33$1,860

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

3 more within 200 mi: Siler City NC (140 mi), Norwood NC (147 mi), Orangeburg SC (179 mi).

Text me New Hanover County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Southeastern Auction Co. Inc. Chadbourn, NC 56 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  2. Powell Livestock Company Smithfield, NC 97 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  3. Low Country Livestock Exchange Darlington, SC 115 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Carolina Stockyards Siler City, NC 140 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  5. Stanly County Livestock Market Norwood, NC 147 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

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 · Nearest USDA hay reports (none for North Carolina): Tennessee

Common questions and nearby counties

Is New Hanover County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. New Hanover 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 New Hanover County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of New Hanover County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 37% 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 New Hanover County?

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

What sale barns are near New Hanover County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Chadbourn NC (56 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Smithfield NC (97 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026; Darlington SC (115 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.