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Seward County, NE

Cattle prices near Seward County, Nebraska. The closest sale barn with a recent report is West Point in West Point, NE, about 70 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

Seward County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Seward County, NE with no drought. Rain has run 110% of normal over the last 30 days (near normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (60% chance of above-normal rain) and the best rain chance this week is 72% on Friday (high 65°). Seward County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 2 monthly payments, and West Point is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 70 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 110% 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 (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 52°, low 34°, 1% rain, wind 10 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 55°, low 41°, 1% rain, wind 9–18 mph
  3. Tuesday Partly Sunny, high 57°, low 46°, 0% rain, wind 17–25 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 63°, low 38°, 12% rain, wind 6–30 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 58°, low 46°, 16% rain, wind 6–14 mph
  6. Friday Chance Rain Showers, high 65°, low 47°, 72% rain, wind 15–25 mph
  7. Saturday Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 53°, low 30°, 27% rain, wind 8–22 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 Seward 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.

Seward County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Seward County grew about 2,239 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 107% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,083 pounds per acre. That was the 8th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2021 at 2,380 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,284.

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 Seward 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

Seward 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)

FSA grain loan rates (2026)

What FSA will lend on stored grain, per bushel. Lets you hold grain instead of selling at harvest.

CropSeward CountyNational average
Corn$2.43 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.16 /cwt
($2.33 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.70 /bu $6.82 /bu
Hard red winter wheat$3.63 /bu $3.72 /bu

County marketing-loan rates. Sorghum's county rate is set per 100 lb; the per-bushel figure uses 56 lb a bushel. Source: FSA 2026 corn/sorghum/soybean schedule, wheat schedule, national rates. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

FSA farm loan interest rates

FSA direct loanRate
Farm Operating - Direct5.625%
Farm Operating - Microloan5.625%
Farm Ownership - Direct6.250%
Farm Ownership - Microloan6.250%
Farm Ownership - Direct, Joint Financing4.250%
Farm Ownership - Down Payment2.250%
Emergency Loan - Amount of Actual Loss3.750%

Set nationally by FSA; the same in every county. Effective Nov 1, 2026. Source: FSA current loan interest rates. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Farm program payments by crop (ARC and PLC)

ARC pays when county crop revenue falls below its guarantee. PLC pays when the national price falls below the reference price. You picked one per crop when you enrolled.

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PLC, 2026 FSA table of Oct 30, 2026

CropReference priceSeason avg pricePLC payment
Wheat /bushel$6.35$6.30 projected$0.05 projected
Barley /bushel$5.58$5.70 projected$0.00 projected
Oats /bushel$3.05$3.35 projected$0.00 projected
Corn /bushel$4.42$4.70 projected$0.00 projected
Grain Sorghum /bushel$4.67$4.50 projected$0.17 projected
Soybeans /bushel$10.71$12.00 projected$0.00 projected

PLC rates are national (paid on the farm's PLC yield). Source: FSA 2026 PLC table. FSA decides who is paid.

FSA payments in Seward County

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Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

Nebraska crop and pasture condition

Nebraska statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is on pace with normal (99% vs 95%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent
Winter Wheat14%19% 67%

Progress

NebraskaThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted99%98%95%
Winter Wheat Emerged96%89%89%
Sorghum Harvested54%42%79%
Corn Harvested74%66%84%

Source: USDA NASS Crop Progress released Nov 9, 2026 (ESMIS), Nebraska rows. Week ending Nov 8, 2026. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Text me Seward County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. West Point Livestock (feeder cattle) West Point, NE 70 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 2, 2026
  2. Ericson Livestock Market Ericson, NE 102 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 14, 2026
  3. Huss Livestock Market Kearney, NE 102 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  4. Dunlap Livestock Auction (feeder cattle) Dunlap, IA 105 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 6, 2026
  5. Burwell Livestock Market Burwell, NE 121 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 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 Seward County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Seward 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 Seward County this week?

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

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: West Point (70 mi), last report Nov 2, 2026; Ericson (102 mi), last report Nov 14, 2026; Kearney (102 mi), last report Nov 11, 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.