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Platte County, NE

Cattle prices near Platte County, Nebraska. The closest sale barn with a recent report is West Point in West Point, NE, about 45 miles away. On Nov 2, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $432.85 per hundredweight on 78 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 West Point 5-wt steers $433▲ $8 since last sale

Platte County rain, outlook and forecast

As of the Nov 10 Drought Monitor, most of Platte County, NE showed no drought; 0% of the county is abnormally dry (D0) or worse, down from 9% four weeks earlier. The best rain chance this week is 80% on Friday (high 62°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (60% chance of above-normal rain). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Platte County with up to 2 monthly payments, and West Point is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 45 miles.

Rain vs normal

Rain totals: not read yet.

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 51°, low 34°, 1% rain, wind 9–12 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 54°, low 40°, 1% rain, wind 9–18 mph
  3. Tuesday Partly Sunny, high 55°, low 46°, 0% rain, wind 15–23 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 64°, low 36°, 8% rain, wind 3–26 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 55°, low 43°, 20% rain, wind 3–13 mph
  6. Friday Rain Showers Likely, high 62°, low 43°, 80% rain, wind 14–21 mph
  7. Saturday Chance Rain Showers, high 50°, low 29°, 28% rain, wind 6–20 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 Platte 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.

Platte County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Platte County grew about 2,290 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 123% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,869 pounds per acre. That was the 3rd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 2,321 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 878.

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 Platte 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

Platte 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
West Point 45 miNov 2$433
Ericson 62 miNov 14$451
Burwell 85 miNov 13$444
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

West Point 45 mi

West Point, NE
Sale of Nov 2, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb49448.23$2,020
Heifers 500-599 lb80403.35$2,220
Heifers 600-699 lb30354.27$2,300
Heifers 700-799 lb9303.00$2,270
Steers 400-499 lb46496.59$2,230
Steers 500-599 lb78432.85$2,380
Steers 600-699 lb90377.27$2,450
Steers 700-799 lb18325.00$2,440

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Ericson 62 mi

Ericson, NE
Sale of Nov 14, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb183441.78$1,990
Heifers 500-599 lb543391.52$2,150
Heifers 600-699 lb11369.00$2,400
Steers 400-499 lb192498.12$2,240
Steers 500-599 lb526451.18$2,480
Steers 600-699 lb366422.88$2,750
Steers 700-799 lb9372.50$2,790

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Burwell 85 mi

Burwell, NE
Sale of Nov 13, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb301435.15$1,960
Heifers 500-599 lb585408.43$2,250
Heifers 600-699 lb85362.08$2,350
Steers 400-499 lb225496.15$2,230
Steers 500-599 lb847443.62$2,440
Steers 600-699 lb705403.72$2,620

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

11 more within 200 mi: Dunlap IA (100 mi), Kearney (102 mi), Denison IA (115 mi), Bassett (125 mi), Worthing SD (127 mi), Lexington (129 mi), Mitchell SD (151 mi), North Platte (171 mi), Valentine (179 mi), Salina (191 mi), Lamoni IA (198 mi).

Text me Platte County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. West Point Livestock (feeder cattle) West Point, NE 45 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 2, 2026
  2. Ericson Livestock Market Ericson, NE 62 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 14, 2026
  3. Burwell Livestock Market Burwell, NE 85 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  4. Dunlap Livestock Auction (feeder cattle) Dunlap, IA 100 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 6, 2026
  5. Huss Livestock Market Kearney, NE 102 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 · Hay prices in Nebraska

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Platte County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Platte 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 Platte County this week?

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

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

What sale barns are near Platte County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: West Point (45 mi), last report Nov 2, 2026; Ericson (62 mi), last report Nov 14, 2026; Burwell (85 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.