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Spink County, SD

Cattle prices near Spink County, South Dakota. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Aberdeen SD in Aberdeen, SD, about 38 miles away. On Nov 11, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $446.32 per hundredweight on 1,079 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) Not listedFSA 2026 list Burn ban Checkcall the county Aberdeen SD 5-wt steers $446▲ $13 since last sale

Spink County rain, outlook and forecast

As of the Nov 10 Drought Monitor, most of Spink County, SD showed no drought; 0% of the county is abnormally dry (D0) or worse, down from 89% four weeks earlier. Rain has run 296% of normal over the last 30 days (well above normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (60% chance of above-normal rain) and the NWS forecast peaks at a 51% rain chance on Friday (high 50°). FSA has not added Spink County to its 2026 LFP list, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Aberdeen SD, 38 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 296% 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 54°, low 38°, 1% rain, wind 16–25 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 57°, low 41°, 0% rain, wind 14–18 mph
  3. Tuesday Partly Sunny, high 55°, low 42°, 0% rain, wind 18–26 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 57°, low 35°, 16% rain, wind 13–18 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 46°, low 34°, 7% rain, wind 5–13 mph
  6. Friday Chance Light Rain, high 50°, low 32°, 51% rain, wind 13–18 mph
  7. Saturday Chance Rain And Snow, high 41°, low 24°, 41% rain, wind 10–22 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 Spink 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.

Spink County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Spink County grew about 2,159 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 125% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,724 pounds per acre. That was the 2nd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 2,280 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,115.

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 Spink 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

A county next to Spink County is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (Beadle County, SD, Faulk County, SD, Hand County, SD). The IRS counts your county plus every county touching it.

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.

CropSpink CountyNational average
Corn$2.30 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$3.99 /cwt
($2.23 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.47 /bu $6.82 /bu
Hard red winter wheat$3.54 /bu $3.72 /bu
Hard red spring wheat$3.99 /bu $3.72 /bu
Durum wheat$5.81 /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 Spink County

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Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

South Dakota crop and pasture condition

South Dakota statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is on pace with normal (98% vs 98%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent
Winter Wheat16%40% 44%

Progress

South DakotaThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted98%97%98%
Winter Wheat Emerged91%85%83%
Sorghum Harvested68%63%86%
Corn Harvested68%63%85%

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

Text me Spink County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Hub City Livestock Auction Aberdeen, SD 38 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  2. Mitchell Livestock Mitchell, SD 84 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  3. Herried Livestock Market Herreid, SD 105 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  4. Ft. Pierre Livestock Auction Fort Pierre, SD 108 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  5. Mobridge Livestock Exchange Mobridge, SD 111 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 · Hay prices in South Dakota

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Spink County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Not on FSA's 2026 LFP county list as of Nov 5, 2026. FSA updates the list as drought changes.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Nov 5, 2026

What is the drought level in Spink County this week?

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

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

What sale barns are near Spink County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Aberdeen SD (38 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Mitchell SD (84 mi), last report Nov 12, 2026; Herreid SD (105 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.