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Ellis County, TX

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Ellis County is on FSA's list (since Sep 1, 2026). Check with your FSA county office first. Details · FSA list as of Oct 29, 2026.
Drought ModerateD1 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban ONno outdoor burning Giddings 5-wt steers $359▼ $3 since last sale

Ellis County rain, outlook and forecast

The Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Ellis County, TX in moderate drought (D1), with 5% at severe drought (D2), and D2-or-worse drought has held there 10 weeks running. Rain has run 42% of normal over the last 30 days (well below normal) and 49% over 90 days; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain and Monday carries the week's highest rain chance at 90% (high 84°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Ellis County with up to 4 monthly payments, and Giddings is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 150 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 42% of normal
  • Last 60 days 63% of normal
  • Last 90 days 49% 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

  1. Today Mostly Sunny, high 79°, low 65°, 3% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  2. Monday Mostly Sunny, high 84°, low 65°, 90% rain, wind 5–20 mph
  3. Tuesday Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny, high 74°, low 52°, 34% rain, wind 0–15 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 74°, low 50°, 2% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 76°, low 50°, 5% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  6. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 71°, low 48°, 5% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  7. Saturday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 71°, low 49°, 20% rain, wind 0–5 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 Ellis 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

Ellis 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)

Drought, past 12 months

5% of the county in severe drought or worse, 10 weeks running.

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: 5% of the county is in severe drought or worse; some of it has been for 10 weeks running. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Oct 27, 2026.

Guide: What D0–D4 mean

See the drought map

Text me Ellis County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Giddings Livestock Commission Giddings, TX 150 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Oct 26, 2026
  2. Southern Oklahoma Livestock (feeder cattle) Ada, OK 167 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Oct 28, 2026
  3. McAlester Union Stockyards McAlester, OK 188 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Oct 27, 2026
  4. Apache Livestock Auction Apache, OK 198 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Oct 29, 2026
  5. Hope Livestock Auction Hope, AR 207 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Oct 29, 2026

Miles are straight-line from the county center. Sale days come from the barns' recent USDA AMS reports; call the barn to confirm. All barns

Printable county brief (PDF) · Everything on one page · Hay prices in Texas

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Ellis County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Ellis County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 4 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.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Oct 29, 2026

What is the drought level in Ellis County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Ellis County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 5% of the county. 10 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Oct 27, 2026

Is there a burn ban in Ellis County?

Yes, a burn ban is in effect for Ellis County (since Aug 4, 2026). Check with the county before burning.

Source: official state burn-ban map, as of Nov 1, 2026

What sale barns are near Ellis County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Giddings (150 mi), last report Oct 26, 2026; Ada (167 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; McAlester (188 mi), last report Oct 27, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 13, 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.