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Washington County, AL

Cattle prices near Washington County, Alabama. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Lucedale MS in Lucedale, MS, about 40 miles away. On Nov 11, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $371.94 per hundredweight on 25 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

Check a bid with Ring Price

Change county
CRP emergency haying & grazing: Washington 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 Lucedale MS 5-wt steers $372▲ $8 since last sale

Washington County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Washington County, AL was abnormally dry (D0) on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map; 100% of the county is abnormally dry (D0) or worse, the same as four weeks earlier. Washington County has had 14% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 77% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 9% rain chance and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Washington County with up to 4 monthly payments, and Lucedale MS is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 40 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 14% of normal
  • Last 60 days 37% of normal
  • Last 90 days 77% 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 (33% chance of above-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 Areas Of Frost then Sunny, high 62°, low 38°, 9% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  2. Monday Partly Sunny, high 60°, low 37°, 4% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 68°, low 39°, 0% rain, wind 5 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 72°, low 43°, 0% rain, wind 5 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 75°, low 45°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 75°, low 45°, 1% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 77°, low 49°, 3% rain, wind 0–5 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 Washington 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.

Washington County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Washington County grew about 2,124 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 132% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,615 pounds per acre. That was the 4th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 2,286 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 416.

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 Washington 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

Washington 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 pasture pay (LFP)

On FSA's 2026 list for 8 pasture types. Up to 4 monthly payments.

Bring head counts, grazing leases and pasture acres to your county FSA office.

How to read this

Each bar is a pasture type; the number is how many monthly payments it qualifies for (1 to 5).

Pasture table
Pasture typeGrazing periodQualifying datePayments
Annual Crabgrass2026-03-01 to 2026-11-302026-03-284
Full Season Improve Mixed2025-12-01 to 2026-10-152026-02-024
Full Season Improved2026-04-01 to 2026-11-302026-04-214
Native Pasture2026-03-01 to 2026-11-302026-03-284
Annual Ryegrass2025-12-01 to 2026-04-302026-02-023
Forage Sorghum2026-05-01 to 2026-10-312026-05-013
Long Season Small Grains2025-12-01 to 2026-04-302026-02-023
Short Season Small Grains2026-05-01 to 2026-07-152026-05-012

FSA "Counties & Pasture Types Eligible for 2026 LFP", file dated Nov 5, 2026 (download). FSA decides eligibility. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: How LFP works and who qualifies

Guide: ELAP and LIP basics

USDA disaster declarations

  • Apr 29, 2026 · Drought
    Neighboring county declared (counts for Washington) · crop year 2026
  • Apr 10, 2026 · Drought
    Neighboring county declared (counts for Washington) · crop year 2026
  • Apr 6, 2026 · Drought
    Washington declared · crop year 2026
  • Mar 25, 2025 · Drought
    Washington declared · crop year 2025
  • Mar 25, 2025 · Drought
    Neighboring county declared (counts for Washington) · crop year 2025

"Declared" means USDA named this county. "Neighboring" means it touches a declared county. Either way, FSA emergency loans can open for about 8 months. FSA designation files (dated Jan 28, 2026, Oct 19, 2026). Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: What a disaster designation means

CRP emergency haying and grazing

Open Washington County is on FSA's emergency haying and grazing list, starting Sep 1, 2026. Trigger: D2 (severe) drought on the Drought Monitor. Get an updated conservation plan from FSA before cutting or turning out.

Before haying and grazing, contact your FSA county office to see if your county remains eligible and/or obtain a modified conservation plan. This list is cumulative for the year and current local conditions may have changed.

Source: FSA eligible-county table posted Nov 5, 2026 · map · FSA program page. FSA posts a new file every Thursday. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: CRP emergency haying and grazing rules

Screwworm (Texas Animal Health Commission)

Data pending. animal-health alerts are read for Texas (TAHC) and Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico (state ag departments); Alabama's state veterinarian isn't read yet

Guide: Screwworm: what to know

New FSA programs: watch list
DateScopeReleaseFlag
Nov 4, 2026MississippiUSDA Designates one Tennessee Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
Nov 4, 2026Hawaii and Pacific IslandsUSDA Extends Application Deadline for Emergency Conservation Program Assistance for Guam and CNMI Counties for Typhoon Bavi Impacts
Nov 4, 2026NebraskaUSDA Authorizes Deadline Extension for Emergency Conservation Program in Several Wildfire-Impacted Counties
Nov 4, 2026FloridaUSDA Designates 9 Alabama Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
Nov 3, 2026AlabamaUSDA Designates 9 Alabama Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
Text me Washington County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Lucedale Livestock Producers Lucedale, MS 40 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  2. Frisco City Stockyard Frisco City, AL 48 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  3. Southeast Mississippi Livestock Hattiesburg, MS 66 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  4. Meridian Stock Yards Inc. Meridian, MS 73 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  5. Alabama Livestock Auction Uniontown, AL 83 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 3, 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 Alabama

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Washington County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Washington 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 Washington County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Washington County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 100% 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 Washington County?

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

What sale barns are near Washington County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Lucedale MS (40 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Frisco City AL (48 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Hattiesburg MS (66 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.