Elk County rain, outlook and forecast
Most of Elk County, KS was abnormally dry (D0) on the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map, with a sliver (<1%) at moderate drought (D1); 1% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, down from 100% four weeks earlier. Rain has run 64% of normal over the last 30 days (below normal) and 78% over 90 days; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 8–12 leans drier than normal (40% chance of below-normal rain) and today carries the week's highest rain chance at 99% (high 76°). Elk County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 2 monthly payments, and Tulsa is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 94 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 64% of normal
- Last 60 days 101% of normal
- Last 90 days 78% of normal
NOAA river forecast center rain (radar plus gauges) at the county center, Nov 2, 2026. Source.
Rain outlook
- 6-10 day outlook (Nov 8–12) Leans drier than normal (40% chance of below-normal rain)
- 8-14 day outlook (Nov 10–16) Leans toward near-normal rain
NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 2, 2026. Source.
Next 7 days
- Today Showers And Thunderstorms, high 76°, low 57°, 99% rain, wind 9–18 mph
- Tuesday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 66°, low 45°, 19% rain, wind 6–20 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 65°, low 44°, 2% rain, wind 5–10 mph
- Thursday Chance Rain Showers, high 65°, low 41°, 38% rain, wind 3–7 mph
- Friday Sunny, high 63°, low 39°, 1% rain, wind 3–6 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 64°, low 40°, 5% rain, wind 1–5 mph
- Sunday Sunny, high 66°, low 40°, 5% rain, wind 3–7 mph
National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 2, 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 Elk County is Dec 1, 2026, 29 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.
Elk County grass production
In 2025, grassland and pasture in Elk County grew about 2,936 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 97% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 3,015 pounds per acre. That was the 20th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 3,619 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,430.
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 Elk 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
Elk 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, 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 Elk County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Elk County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 2 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.
What is the drought level in Elk County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Elk County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on a sliver (<1%) of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Elk 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 Elk County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Tulsa (94 mi), last report Oct 26, 2026; Salina (120 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Siloam Springs (129 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.