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Union County, NC

Cattle prices near Union County, North Carolina. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Norwood NC in Norwood, NC, about 29 miles away. On Nov 11, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $360.00 per hundredweight on 24 head (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 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Norwood NC 5-wt steers $360▼ $12 since last sale

Union County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Union County, NC was abnormally dry (D0), with 32% at moderate drought (D1); 32% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, down from 96% four weeks earlier. Union County has had 18% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 56% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain and no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 1% rain chance. Union County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and Norwood NC is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 29 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 18% of normal
  • Last 60 days 71% of normal
  • Last 90 days 56% 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 (40% chance of above-normal rain)

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Sunny, high 58°, low 32°, 0% rain, wind 1–8 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 59°, low 32°, 0% rain, wind 1–6 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 63°, low 33°, 0% rain, wind 1–5 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 66°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 1–3 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 70°, low 39°, 0% rain, wind 1 mph
  6. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 71°, low 40°, 0% rain, wind 2–3 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 70°, 1% rain, wind 5 mph

National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 14, 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 Union 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.

Union County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Union County grew about 2,838 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 111% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,553 pounds per acre. That was the 7th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 1999 at 3,124 pounds per acre; worst: 1987 at 1,545.

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 Union 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

Union 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
Norwood NC 29 miNov 11$360
Shelby NC 61 miNov 10$357
Darlington SC 61 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

Norwood NC 29 mi

Norwood, NC
Sale of Nov 11, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb56347.79$1,570
Heifers 500-599 lb41313.63$1,720
Heifers 600-699 lb8284.89$1,850
Heifers 700-799 lb3251.57$1,890
Steers 400-499 lb15367.46$1,650
Steers 500-599 lb24360.00$1,980
Steers 600-699 lb8324.98$2,110
Steers 700-799 lb4315.00$2,360

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Shelby NC 61 mi

Shelby, NC
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb27327.21$1,470
Heifers 500-599 lb31298.99$1,640
Heifers 600-699 lb24255.35$1,660
Heifers 700-799 lb6227.47$1,710
Steers 400-499 lb2385.00$1,730
Steers 500-599 lb9356.71$1,960
Steers 600-699 lb3320.59$2,080
Steers 700-799 lb3251.50$1,890

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Darlington SC 61 mi

Darlington, SC
Sale of Nov 10, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb3373.31$1,680
Heifers 500-599 lb1330.00$1,820
Heifers 600-699 lb1300.00$1,950
Heifers 700-799 lb2272.53$2,040
Steers 400-499 lb3413.33$1,860

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

21 more within 200 mi: Turnersburg NC (65 mi), Siler City NC (79 mi), North Wilkesboro NC (88 mi), Laurens SC (91 mi), Saluda SC (Stockyards) (98 mi), Saluda SC (Exchange) (98 mi), Orangeburg SC (105 mi), Chadbourn NC (107 mi), Williamston SC (114 mi), Smithfield NC (128 mi), Canton NC (135 mi), Dublin VA (146 mi), Greeneville TN (152 mi), Washington GA (153 mi), Eastanollee GA (158 mi), Carnesville GA (159 mi), Moneta VA (160 mi), Roanoke VA (161 mi), Athens GA (177 mi), Rustburg VA (177 mi), Greensboro GA (181 mi).

Text me Union County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Stanly County Livestock Market Norwood, NC 29 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  2. Cleveland County Agriculture & Livestock Exchange Shelby, NC 61 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. Low Country Livestock Exchange Darlington, SC 61 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Harward Brothers Livestock Market Turnersburg, NC 65 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  5. Carolina Stockyards Siler City, NC 79 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 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 · Nearest USDA hay reports (none for North Carolina): Tennessee

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Union County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Union 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 Union County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Union County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 32% 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 Union County?

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

What sale barns are near Union County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Norwood NC (29 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Shelby NC (61 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Darlington SC (61 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.