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Van Buren County, AR

Cattle prices near Van Buren County, Arkansas. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Heber Springs AR in Heber Springs, AR, about 28 miles away. On Nov 9, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $371.94 per hundredweight on 14 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 5 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Heber Springs AR 5-wt steers $372per cwt

Van Buren County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Van Buren County, AR abnormally dry (D0), with 48% at moderate drought (D1); four weeks earlier 45% of the county was in moderate drought (D1) or worse, now 48%. Rain has run 67% of normal over the last 30 days (below normal) and 76% over 90 days; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (40% chance of above-normal rain) and the best rain chance this week is 41% on Saturday (high 71°). Van Buren County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 5 monthly payments, and Heber Springs AR is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 28 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 67% of normal
  • Last 60 days 55% of normal
  • Last 90 days 76% 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 wetter than normal (40% chance of above-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 56°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 60°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 62°, low 37°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 65°, low 44°, 2% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 68°, low 48°, 3% rain, wind 0 mph
  6. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 71°, low 48°, 3% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  7. Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 71°, low 48°, 41% rain, wind 0–10 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 Van Buren 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.

Van Buren County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Van Buren County grew about 3,041 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 105% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,896 pounds per acre. That was the 10th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 3,307 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 2,272.

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 Van Buren 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

Van Buren 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)

Drought, past 12 months

0% of the county in severe drought or worse.

How to read this

Each band is how much of the county was in that drought level that week. Darker = worse. D2 (severe) and darker can trigger USDA drought pay.

Right now: 0% of the county is in severe drought or worse; some of it has been for 0 weeks running. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Nov 10, 2026.

Guide: What D0–D4 mean

See the drought map

Text me Van Buren County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Cleburne County Livestock Heber Springs, AR 28 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  2. Arkansas Cattle Auction LLC Searcy, AR 50 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. Ash Flat Livestock Ash Flat, AR 68 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  4. Green Forest Stockyards Green Forest, AR 73 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  5. I-40 Livestock Ozark, AR 75 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 · Nearest USDA hay reports (none for Arkansas): Missouri, Oklahoma

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Van Buren County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Van Buren County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 5 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 Van Buren County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Van Buren County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 48% 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 Van Buren County?

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

What sale barns are near Van Buren County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Heber Springs AR (28 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Searcy AR (50 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Ash Flat AR (68 mi), last report Nov 13, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Apply for NRCS conservation cost-share (EQIP, CSP, ACEP) to be considered for 2027 money; Nov 20, 2026: Micro Farm 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.