Clay County rain, outlook and forecast
As of the Oct 27 Drought Monitor, most of Clay County, KS showed no drought; four weeks earlier 45% of the county was abnormally dry (D0) or worse, now 0%. Over 90 days rain is at 120% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 38% (well below normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans drier than normal (33% chance of below-normal rain) and the NWS forecast peaks at a 74% rain chance on Tuesday (high 59°). FSA has not added Clay County to its 2026 LFP list, and Salina is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 44 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 38% of normal
- Last 60 days 171% of normal
- Last 90 days 120% 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 7–11) Leans drier than normal (33% chance of below-normal rain)
- 8-14 day outlook (Nov 9–15) Leans toward near-normal rain
NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 1, 2026. Source.
Next 7 days
- Today Isolated Rain Showers, high 67°, low 62°, 52% rain, wind 10–20 mph
- Monday Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 74°, low 52°, 69% rain, wind 10–25 mph
- Tuesday Rain Showers Likely, high 59°, low 41°, 74% rain, wind 10–20 mph
- Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 61°, low 40°, 3% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 58°, low 39°, 9% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 61°, low 41°, 2% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 65°, low 43°, 21% rain, wind 0–5 mph
National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 1, 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 Clay County is Dec 1, 2026, 30 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.
Clay County grass production
In 2025, grassland and pasture in Clay County grew about 2,483 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 100% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,485 pounds per acre. That was the 17th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 2,842 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 970.
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 Clay 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
Neither Clay County nor any county touching it is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (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)
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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 Oct 27, 2026.
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Clay 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 Clay County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Clay 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.
Is there a burn ban in Clay 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 Clay County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Salina (44 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Pratt (143 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Dodge City (189 mi), last report Oct 28, 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.