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Stillwater County, MT

Cattle prices near Stillwater County, Montana. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Billings MT (BLC) in Billings, MT, about 41 miles away. On Nov 9, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $408.25 per hundredweight on 46 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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Change county
CRP emergency haying & grazing: Stillwater County is on FSA's list (since Sep 1, 2026). Check with your FSA county office first. Details · FSA list as of Nov 5, 2026.
Drought Abnormally dryD0 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Billings MT (BLC) 5-wt steers $408per cwt

Stillwater County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Stillwater County, MT was abnormally dry (D0), with 35% at moderate drought (D1); 35% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, down from 40% four weeks earlier. Rain has run 69% of normal over the last 30 days (below normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain and Tuesday carries the week's highest rain chance at 50% (high 49°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Stillwater County with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Billings MT (BLC), 41 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 69% 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 toward near-normal rain
  • 8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28) Leans toward near-normal rain

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Mostly Sunny, high 57°, low 30°, 0% rain, wind 5 mph
  2. Monday Mostly Cloudy, high 55°, low 34°, 5% rain, wind 2 mph
  3. Tuesday Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers, high 49°, low 29°, 50% rain, wind 1–10 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 46°, low 23°, 11% rain, wind 0–10 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers, high 42°, low 25°, 36% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  6. Friday Chance Snow Showers, high 41°, low 23°, 45% rain, wind 2 mph
  7. Saturday Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 42°, low 21°, 19% rain, wind 2 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 Stillwater 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.

Stillwater County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Stillwater County grew about 1,185 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 127% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 931 pounds per acre. That was the 4th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2023 at 1,263 pounds per acre; worst: 1988 at 684.

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 Stillwater 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

Stillwater 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
Billings MT (BLC) 41 miNov 9$408
Billings MT (PAYS) 41 miNov 11–
Miles City MT 178 miNov 10$427
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

Billings MT (BLC) 41 mi

Billings, MT
Sale of Nov 9, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb57422.51$1,900
Heifers 500-599 lb96360.80$1,980
Heifers 600-699 lb12315.08$2,050
Steers 400-499 lb56462.95$2,080
Steers 500-599 lb46408.25$2,250
Steers 600-699 lb5319.00$2,070

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Billings MT (PAYS) 41 mi

Billings, MT
Sale of Nov 11, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Miles City MT 178 mi

Miles City, MT
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb272442.06$1,990
Heifers 500-599 lb600393.00$2,160
Heifers 600-699 lb79347.83$2,260
Steers 400-499 lb148475.73$2,140
Steers 500-599 lb605426.74$2,350
Steers 600-699 lb584390.49$2,540
Steers 700-799 lb17354.00$2,660

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

1 more within 200 mi: Riverton WY (188 mi).

Text me Stillwater County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Billings Livestock Commission Billings, MT 41 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  2. Public Auction Yards Billings, MT 41 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  3. Miles City Livestock Commission Miles City, MT 178 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Winter Livestock Auction Riverton, WY 188 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 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 Montana

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Stillwater County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Stillwater 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 Stillwater County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Stillwater County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 35% 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 Stillwater County?

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

What sale barns are near Stillwater County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Billings MT (BLC) (41 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Billings MT (PAYS) (41 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Miles City MT (178 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.