Butler County rain, outlook and forecast
The Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Butler County, KS in moderate drought (D1); 51% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, down from 90% four weeks earlier. Over 90 days rain is at 75% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 89% (near normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 6–10 leans toward near-normal rain and Monday carries the week's highest rain chance at 71% (high 75°). Butler County is not on FSA's 2026 LFP list yet, and Salina is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 83 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 89% of normal
- Last 60 days 97% of normal
- Last 90 days 75% of normal
NOAA river forecast center rain (radar plus gauges) at the county center, Nov 1, 2026. Source.
Rain outlook
- 6-10 day outlook (Nov 6–10) Leans toward near-normal rain
- 8-14 day outlook (Nov 8–14) Leans toward near-normal rain
NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Oct 31, 2026. Source.
Next 7 days
- Today Mostly Cloudy, high 71°, low 60°, 28% rain, wind 5–22 mph
- Monday Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, high 75°, low 55°, 71% rain, wind 9–26 mph
- Tuesday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 65°, low 45°, 23% rain, wind 7–17 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 65°, low 44°, 5% rain, wind 3–9 mph
- Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 65°, low 44°, 13% rain, wind 3–8 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 67°, low 46°, 4% rain, wind 3–6 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 69°, low 47°, 23% rain, wind 3–8 mph
National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 1, 2026. Wind, warnings and burn bans.
Open loss windows
No open loss windows in Butler 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
A county next to Butler County is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (Cowley County, KS, Elk County, KS, Harvey County, KS, Sedgwick County, KS, Sumner County, KS). The IRS counts your county plus every county touching it.
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)
5-wt steers, nearest barns
Steers 500–599 lb, $/cwt, weekly average.
| Barn | Last sale | 5-wt steers |
|---|---|---|
| Salina 83 mi | Oct 29 | $423 |
| Pratt 101 mi | Oct 29 | $452 |
| Tulsa 125 mi | Oct 26 | $413 |
How to read this
Each line is one barn's head-weighted average for 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) in that week; gaps are weeks with no sale or no lots that size. Past sales, not a bid.
Dollars per hundredweight ($/cwt, per 100 lb), calculated from USDA AMS Market News sale reports (Medium & Large 1 and 1-2). Not a USDA-published average. ≈ $/head = $/cwt × the middle of the weight class ÷ 100.
Guide: How to read a USDA sale barn report
All weights at the 3 nearest barns
5 more within 200 mi: El Reno (166 mi), Woodward (167 mi), Siloam Springs (168 mi), Dodge City (173 mi), Exeter (177 mi).
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Butler County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Not on FSA's 2026 LFP county list as of Oct 29, 2026. FSA updates the list as drought changes.
What is the drought level in Butler County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Butler County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 51% of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Butler County?
No official statewide list to check: Kansas has no statewide official burn-ban list; county commissions set bans and announce them locally (county emergency management or sheriff).
What sale barns are near Butler County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Salina (83 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Pratt (101 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Tulsa (125 mi), last report Oct 26, 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.