Cowley County rain, outlook and forecast
On the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Cowley County, KS was in moderate drought (D1); four weeks earlier 100% of the county was in moderate drought (D1) or worse, now 83%. Rain has run 80% of normal over the last 30 days (below normal) and 54% over 90 days, so the past month has been wetter than the season so far; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain and the NWS forecast peaks at a 77% rain chance on Monday (high 73°). Cowley County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 1 monthly payment, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Tulsa, 92 miles away.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 80% of normal
- Last 60 days 79% of normal
- Last 90 days 54% 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 toward near-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 Partly Sunny, high 72°, low 62°, 6% rain, wind 7–21 mph
- Monday Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, high 73°, low 54°, 77% rain, wind 9–23 mph
- Tuesday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 67°, low 44°, 22% rain, wind 6–18 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 68°, low 43°, 19% rain, wind 3–9 mph
- Thursday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 64°, low 42°, 16% rain, wind 3–9 mph
- Friday Sunny, high 66°, low 43°, 1% rain, wind 2–6 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 68°, low 44°, 26% rain, wind 2–7 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 Cowley 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.
Cowley County grass production
In 2025, grassland and pasture in Cowley County grew about 3,150 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 106% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,964 pounds per acre. That was the 11th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 3,493 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,997.
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 Cowley 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
Cowley 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)
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Drought pasture pay (LFP)
On FSA's 2026 list for 5 pasture types. Up to 1 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 type | Grazing period | Qualifying date | Payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Crabgrass | 2026-04-01 to 2026-09-30 | 2026-09-28 | 1 |
| Annual Ryegrass | 2026-04-01 to 2026-09-30 | 2026-09-28 | 1 |
| Forage Sorghum | 2026-08-01 to 2026-09-30 | 2026-09-28 | 1 |
| Full Season Improved | 2026-04-01 to 2026-09-30 | 2026-09-28 | 1 |
| Native Pasture | 2026-04-16 to 2026-10-15 | 2026-09-28 | 1 |
FSA "Counties & Pasture Types Eligible for 2026 LFP", file dated Oct 29, 2026 (download). FSA decides eligibility. Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
USDA disaster declarations
- Jan 16, 2026 · Flood, Flash Flooding, Excessive Rain, Moisture, Humidity, Hail, Wind, High Winds
Neighboring county declared (counts for Cowley) · crop year 2025 - Mar 25, 2025 · Drought
Neighboring county declared (counts for Cowley) · crop year 2025
"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 Jan 28, 2026). Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
CRP emergency haying and grazing
Open Cowley County is on FSA's emergency haying and grazing list, starting Sep 1, 2026. Trigger: D2 (severe) drought on the Drought Monitor. Get an updated conservation plan from FSA before cutting or turning out.
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 Oct 29, 2026 · map · FSA program page. FSA posts a new file every Thursday. Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
Animal health notices: Kansas
New FSA programs: watch list
| Date | Scope | Release | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2026 | Oklahoma | USDA Designates Three Oklahoma Counties as Natural Disaster Areas | |
| Oct 30, 2026 | Minnesota | USDA Designates Numerous Counties in Minnesota as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought | |
| Oct 30, 2026 | Maine | USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Agricultural Producers in Maine Impacted by Drought | |
| Oct 29, 2026 | North Carolina | USDA Designates 13 North Carolina Counties as a Natural Disaster Area | |
| Oct 29, 2026 | Oklahoma | USDA Designates Eight Oklahoma Counties as Natural Disaster Areas |
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Cowley County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Cowley County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 1 monthly payment for some pasture types. FSA decides each operation's eligibility; apply at your county FSA office by March 1 after the loss year.
What is the drought level in Cowley County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Cowley County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 83% of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Cowley 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 Cowley County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Tulsa (92 mi), last report Oct 26, 2026; Pratt (105 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Salina (117 mi), last report Oct 29, 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.