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Shelby County, AL

Cattle prices near Shelby County, Alabama. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Ashville AL in Ashville, AL, about 45 miles away. The latest report is dated Nov 9 (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 Lineville AL 5-wt steers $365per cwt

Shelby County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Shelby County, AL was abnormally dry (D0); 54% of the county is abnormally dry (D0) or worse, the same as four weeks earlier. Shelby County has had 22% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 75% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 3% rain chance and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Shelby County with up to 3 monthly payments, and Ashville AL is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 45 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 22% of normal
  • Last 60 days 78% of normal
  • Last 90 days 75% 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 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 Mostly Sunny, high 61°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  2. Monday Patchy Frost then Mostly Sunny, high 63°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  3. Tuesday Patchy Frost then Sunny, high 66°, low 36°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  4. Wednesday Patchy Frost then Sunny, high 70°, low 39°, 1% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 72°, low 41°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 73°, low 42°, 1% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 74°, low 46°, 3% rain, wind 0–5 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 Shelby 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.

Shelby County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Shelby County grew about 2,208 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 102% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,156 pounds per acre. That was the 19th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 1998 at 2,738 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 997.

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 Shelby 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

Shelby 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
Ashville AL 45 miNov 9–
Lineville AL 53 miNov 10–
Cullman AL 64 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

Ashville AL 45 mi

Ashville, AL
Sale of Nov 9, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb10360.44$1,620
Heifers 500-599 lb12327.06$1,800
Heifers 600-699 lb10305.50$1,990
Heifers 700-799 lb2294.88$2,210
Steers 700-799 lb11310.48$2,330

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Lineville AL 53 mi

Lineville, AL
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb4367.56$1,650
Heifers 500-599 lb17310.98$1,710
Heifers 600-699 lb7306.84$1,990

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Cullman AL 64 mi

Cullman, AL
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb20366.32$1,650
Heifers 500-599 lb26332.48$1,830
Heifers 600-699 lb6305.42$1,990
Steers 400-499 lb7450.00$2,020

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

38 more within 200 mi: Arab AL (74 mi), Uniontown AL (74 mi), Roanoke AL (75 mi), Kilpatrick AL (77 mi), Letohatchee AL (79 mi), Moulton AL (92 mi), Carrollton GA (94 mi), Russellville AL (105 mi), Macon MS (110 mi), West Point MS (117 mi), Brundidge AL (118 mi), Florence AL (122 mi), Fayetteville TN (130 mi), Calhoun GA (131 mi), Meridian MS (133 mi), Frisco City AL (134 mi), Pulaski TN (135 mi), New Brockton AL (138 mi), Thomaston GA (138 mi), Opp AL (139 mi), Houston MS (142 mi), Philadelphia MS (147 mi), Jackson GA (156 mi), Dothan AL (158 mi), Savannah TN (162 mi), Unionville TN (162 mi), Columbia TN (164 mi), Kosciusko MS (170 mi), Forest MS (175 mi), McMinnville TN (175 mi), Winona MS (178 mi), Grenada MS (185 mi), Donalsonville GA (186 mi), Athens TN (191 mi), Athens GA (195 mi), Lucedale MS (197 mi), Dickson TN (197 mi), Hawkinsville GA (197 mi).

Text me Shelby County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Ashville Stockyard Ashville, AL 45 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  2. Clay County Livestock Auction Lineville, AL 53 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. Cullman Stockyard Cullman, AL 64 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Arab Livestock Market Arab, AL 74 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  5. Alabama Livestock Auction Uniontown, AL 74 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 3, 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 Alabama

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Shelby County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Shelby 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 Shelby County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Shelby County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 54% 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 Shelby County?

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

What sale barns are near Shelby County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Ashville AL (45 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Lineville AL (53 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Cullman AL (64 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.