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Union County, SC

Cattle prices near Union County, South Carolina. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Laurens SC in Laurens, SC, about 26 miles away. On Nov 11, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $351.25 per hundredweight on 4 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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Union County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Union County, SC showed no drought on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map. Over 90 days rain is at 100% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 19% (well below normal); no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 1% rain chance and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain. Union County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and Laurens SC is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 26 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 19% of normal
  • Last 60 days 125% of normal
  • Last 90 days 100% 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 Clear, low 31°, 0% rain, wind 3 mph
  2. Sunday Sunny, high 57°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 0–3 mph
  3. Monday Sunny, high 59°, low 32°, 0% rain, wind 1–5 mph
  4. Tuesday Sunny, high 63°, low 33°, 0% rain, wind 2–3 mph
  5. Wednesday Sunny, high 66°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  6. Thursday Sunny, high 69°, low 38°, 0% rain, wind 0–1 mph
  7. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 70°, low 41°, 1% rain, wind 1–2 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 2,387 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 121% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,966 pounds per acre. That was the 3rd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 1994 at 2,526 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,271.

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
Laurens SC 26 miNov 11$351
Shelby NC 42 miNov 10$357
Saluda SC (Stockyards) 48 miNov 9–
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.

Price history · Barn map · Fed vs feeder cattle

All weights at the 3 nearest barns

Laurens SC 26 mi

Laurens, SC
Sale of Nov 11, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb1380.00$1,710
Heifers 500-599 lb2325.00$1,790
Heifers 600-699 lb4291.25$1,890
Heifers 700-799 lb1265.00$1,990
Steers 400-499 lb4385.00$1,730
Steers 500-599 lb4351.25$1,930
Steers 600-699 lb1310.00$2,020
Steers 700-799 lb2300.00$2,250

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

Shelby NC 42 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

Saluda SC (Stockyards) 48 mi

Saluda, SC
Sale of Nov 9, 2026
CattleHead$/cwt≈ $/head
Heifers 400-499 lb8356.18$1,600
Heifers 500-599 lb3323.29$1,780

USDA report (PDF) · Price history

26 more within 200 mi: Saluda SC (Exchange) (48 mi), Williamston SC (49 mi), Canton NC (90 mi), Washington GA (92 mi), Norwood NC (93 mi), Orangeburg SC (93 mi), Eastanollee GA (94 mi), Carnesville GA (95 mi), Turnersburg NC (96 mi), Darlington SC (103 mi), North Wilkesboro NC (106 mi), Athens GA (112 mi), Greensboro GA (119 mi), Greeneville TN (123 mi), Siler City NC (141 mi), Knoxville TN (159 mi), Chadbourn NC (161 mi), Jackson GA (166 mi), Oak Park GA (166 mi), Sweetwater TN (173 mi), Dublin VA (175 mi), Athens TN (177 mi), Calhoun GA (189 mi), Smithfield NC (193 mi), Hawkinsville GA (197 mi), Thomaston GA (199 mi).

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Laurens Livestock Exchange Laurens, SC 26 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  2. Cleveland County Agriculture & Livestock Exchange Shelby, NC 42 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. Saluda Stockyards Saluda, SC 48 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  4. Saluda Livestock Exchange Saluda, SC 48 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  5. Upstate Livestock Exchange Williamston, SC 49 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 South Carolina): Alabama, 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 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 Union County?

No official statewide list to check: Cownty doesn't read an official statewide burn-ban list for South 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: Laurens SC (26 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Shelby NC (42 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Saluda SC (Stockyards) (48 mi), last report Nov 9, 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.