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Wetzel County, WV

Cattle prices near Wetzel County, West Virginia. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Weston WV in Weston, WV, about 40 miles away. On Oct 31, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $368.06 per hundredweight on 23 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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Drought No droughtNone · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Not listedFSA 2026 list Burn ban Checkcall the county Weston WV 5-wt steers $368per cwt

Wetzel County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Wetzel County, WV showed no drought on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map. Over 90 days rain is at 114% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 24% (well below normal); the NWS forecast peaks at a 40% rain chance on today (high 47°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans drier than normal (33% chance of below-normal rain). Wetzel County is not on FSA's 2026 LFP list yet, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Weston WV, 40 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 24% of normal
  • Last 60 days 90% of normal
  • Last 90 days 114% 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 drier than normal (33% chance of below-normal rain)
  • 8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28) Leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain)

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Chance Light Rain, high 47°, low 36°, 40% rain, wind 1–7 mph
  2. Monday Mostly Cloudy, high 51°, low 29°, 1% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 55°, low 29°, 0% rain, wind 0–2 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 60°, low 32°, 0% rain, wind 2 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 61°, low 38°, 0% rain, wind 2–6 mph
  6. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 62°, low 40°, 1% rain, wind 1–5 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 66°, low 43°, 3% rain, wind 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 Wetzel 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.

Wetzel County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Wetzel County grew about 2,823 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 134% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,109 pounds per acre. That was the 2nd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2024 at 2,946 pounds per acre; worst: 1987 at 1,790.

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 Wetzel 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

Wetzel 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 Wetzel County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Weston Livestock Marketing Weston, WV 40 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Oct 31, 2026
  2. Buckhannon Stockyards Buckhannon, WV 47 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Oct 28, 2026
  3. Preston Farmers Market Terra Alta, WV 59 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Oct 30, 2026
  4. Jackson County Regional Ripley, WV 79 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Nov 7, 2026
  5. South Branch Valley Livestock Exchange Moorefield, WV 97 mi · sells Saturdays · latest USDA report Oct 31, 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 West Virginia): Kentucky

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Wetzel County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Not on FSA's 2026 LFP county list as of Nov 5, 2026. FSA updates the list as drought changes.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Nov 5, 2026

What is the drought level in Wetzel County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Wetzel 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 Wetzel County?

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

What sale barns are near Wetzel County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Weston WV (40 mi), last report Oct 31, 2026; Buckhannon WV (47 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; Terra Alta WV (59 mi), last report Oct 30, 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.