Answers

• How does a county qualify for LFP?
  The Drought Monitor sets LFP: 4 straight weeks of D2 in the grazing season qualifies a county for one monthly payment. See which Panhandle counties are on the 2026 list.
• When is the LFP deadline for 2026 losses?
  LFP applications for 2026 grazing losses are due March 1, 2027, per FSA's rule of March 1 after the loss year.
• What records does FSA ask for with LFP?
  The forms and proof FSA lists for an LFP application: CCC-853, acreage report, leases, inventory and payment forms.
• What does D2 / D3 / D4 drought mean?
  D0 to D4 are the U.S. Drought Monitor's levels: abnormally dry, moderate, severe, extreme and exceptional. See this week's levels across the Panhandle.
• How many weeks of drought for LFP?
  Four straight weeks of D2 severe drought during the grazing period now qualifies a county for one LFP payment month; 7 of 8 weeks for two.
• What is a USDA disaster designation and what does it open?
  A Secretarial disaster designation names a county for a disaster and opens FSA emergency loans there and in neighboring counties.
• What is CRP emergency haying and grazing?
  In drought, FSA can let Conservation Reserve Program acres be hayed or grazed in approved counties. See which Panhandle counties are approved.
• How do I read a USDA sale barn report?
  What the columns in a USDA AMS auction report mean: class, weight, head, price range and weighted average in $/cwt.
• What does $/cwt mean?
  $/cwt is dollars per hundredweight, the price for 100 pounds. Multiply by weight ÷ 100 to get dollars per head.
• What is a head-weighted average?
  A head-weighted average counts each animal once, so a 90-head lot moves the average more than a 2-head lot. Here's how Cownty uses it.
• Why do 5-weight steers bring more per cwt than 8-weights?
  Lighter calves bring more per pound because the buyer gets to add cheap gain. See this week's price slide by weight at Panhandle barns.
• Which Panhandle barns report to USDA?
  The Panhandle-area sale barns with a USDA AMS Market News auction report, with report numbers and latest sale dates.
• Why isn't Amarillo Livestock Auction in USDA reports?
  USDA stopped its Amarillo Livestock Auction report in September 2021. Here are the nearest barns that still have one.
• What day does each barn sell?
  Which weekday each Panhandle-area barn's USDA-reported sales fall on, from the last 8 reports. Check the barn for special sales.
• What is New World screwworm and how close is it?
  New World screwworm is a fly whose larvae eat live tissue. See how far the nearest Texas zone is from the Panhandle this week.
• Do I need a permit to move cattle out of a screwworm zone?
  TAHC orders set the rules for moving animals out of a Texas screwworm zone. Read the current order before hauling.
• Who declares burn bans in Texas?
  In Texas the county judge or commissioners court declares burn bans. See which Texas Panhandle counties have one today.
• What are ARC and PLC?
  ARC pays when county crop revenue falls below its guarantee; PLC pays when the national price falls below the reference price.
• What are FSA loan rates this month?
  This month's FSA farm loan interest rates and the county grain loan rates for the Panhandle, from FSA's published tables.
• What is ELAP?
  ELAP covers livestock feed, grazing, water hauling and some other losses that LFP and LIP don't. File by March 1 after the loss year.
• What is LIP?
  LIP pays for livestock deaths above normal mortality from weather, disease or protected predators, at 75% (100% for protected predators).
• How do I find my county FSA office?
  Use USDA's Service Center Locator to find the FSA office that serves your county, with address and phone.
• What are calf prices doing this fall?
  This week's 500–599 lb steer calf prices at Panhandle barns, the Cownty 5-wt Index and its trend, from USDA-reported sales.
• What is the Cownty 5-wt Index?
  One weekly number for 500–599 lb steer calves at seven Panhandle-area barns, head-weighted from USDA reports. Method and history.
• How to get drought alerts by text
  Pick your county on Cownty's free sign-up and get a text when its drought level, LFP status or burn ban changes.

See also: 2026 LFP county lists · barns · word list