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Wilkes County, NC

Cattle prices near Wilkes County, North Carolina. The closest sale barn with a recent report is North Wilkesboro NC in North Wilkesboro, NC, about 3 miles away. On Nov 11, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $353.40 per hundredweight on 10 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) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county North Wilkesboro NC 5-wt steers $353▼ $19 since last sale

Wilkes County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Wilkes County, NC with no drought; 0% of the county is abnormally dry (D0) or worse, down from 48% four weeks earlier. Rain has run 19% of normal over the last 30 days (well below normal) and 117% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 2% rain chance and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain. Wilkes County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and North Wilkesboro NC is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 3 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 19% of normal
  • Last 60 days 122% of normal
  • Last 90 days 117% 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 54°, low 29°, 2% rain, wind 1–6 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 57°, low 28°, 0% rain, wind 0–1 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 60°, low 29°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 64°, low 31°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 67°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
  6. Friday Sunny, high 69°, low 36°, 1% rain, wind 0–1 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 66°, 1% rain, wind 1 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 Wilkes 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.

Wilkes County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Wilkes County grew about 3,333 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 127% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,625 pounds per acre. That was the 1st best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2025 at 3,333 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,394.

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 Wilkes 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

Wilkes 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 4 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
Forage Sorghum2026-05-15 to 2026-10-012026-05-154
Full Season Improved2026-04-01 to 2026-11-152026-04-074
Long Season Small Grains2025-11-01 to 2026-06-012026-02-024
Native Pasture2026-04-01 to 2026-11-152026-04-074

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

  • Jun 4, 2026 · Drought
    Neighboring county declared (counts for Wilkes) · crop year 2026
  • Apr 21, 2026 · Drought
    Neighboring county declared (counts for Wilkes) · crop year 2026
  • Apr 10, 2026 · Drought
    Wilkes declared · crop year 2026

"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 Oct 19, 2026). Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: What a disaster designation means

CRP emergency haying and grazing

Not on the list Wilkes County is not on FSA's emergency haying and grazing list as of Nov 5, 2026. Non-emergency haying and grazing may still be allowed outside the primary nesting season.

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); North Carolina'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 Wilkes County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Wilkes Livestock Exchange North Wilkesboro, NC 3 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  2. Harward Brothers Livestock Market Turnersburg, NC 29 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  3. Cleveland County Agriculture & Livestock Exchange Shelby, NC 67 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Pulaski Livestock Dublin, VA 67 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Sep 23, 2026
  5. Stanly County Livestock Market Norwood, NC 90 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 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 Wilkes County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Wilkes 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 Wilkes County this week?

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

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: North Wilkesboro NC (3 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Turnersburg NC (29 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Shelby NC (67 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Apples 2027: last day to buy crop insurance; Nov 20, 2026: Grapes 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.