Cattle prices near Kit Carson County, Colorado. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Brush in Brush, CO, about 86 miles away. On Nov 13, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $435.27 per hundredweight on 99 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.
Most of Kit Carson County, CO showed no drought on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map; four weeks earlier 37% of the county was abnormally dry (D0) or worse, now 0%. Kit Carson County has had 144% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 219% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 16% rain chance and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (50% chance of above-normal rain). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Kit Carson County with up to 3 monthly payments, and Brush is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 86 miles.
Rain vs normal
Last 30 days144% of normal
Last 60 daysnot read yet
Last 90 days219% of normal
NOAA river forecast center rain (radar plus gauges) at the county center, Nov 15, 2026. Source.
Rain outlook
6-10 day outlook (Nov 20–24)Leans wetter than normal (50% chance of above-normal rain)
8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28)Leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain)
NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 14, 2026. Source.
The 2027 Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) insurance sales closing date for Kit Carson County is Dec 1, 2026, 16 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.
Date from USDA RMA's actuarial data, read Aug 28, 2026 · RMA dates map. Your agent confirms the date for your policy.
Kit Carson County grass production
In 2025, grassland and pasture in Kit Carson County grew about 1,429 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 109% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,307 pounds per acre. That was the 9th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2015 at 1,799 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 721.
No open loss windows in Kit Carson 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
Kit Carson 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.
Set nationally by FSA; the same in every county. Effective Nov 1, 2026. Source: FSA current loan interest rates. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.
Farm program payments by crop (ARC and PLC)
ARC pays when county crop revenue falls below its guarantee. PLC pays when the national price falls below the reference price. You picked one per crop when you enrolled.
2026 program year guarantees onlyFSA file of Jan 16, 2026
Crop
Guarantee
Most it can pay
Barley
$549.59
$73.28
Canola
$299.26
$39.90
Corn irrigated
$746.09
$99.48
Corn nonirrigated
$204.80
$27.31
Dry Peas
$188.21
$25.09
Grain Sorghum irrigated
$367.81
$49.04
Grain Sorghum nonirrigated
$152.41
$20.32
Safflower
$254.16
$33.89
Soybeans
$471.42
$62.86
Sunflower Seed irrigated
$475.76
$63.43
Sunflower Seed nonirrigated
$152.49
$20.33
Wheat irrigated
$359.33
$47.91
Wheat nonirrigated
$219.18
$29.22
Show the math
Crop
Benchmark yield × price
Benchmark revenue
Barley
94.97 bushel/ac × $6.43
$610.66
Canola
1281.35 pound/ac × $0.26
$332.51
Corn irrigated
164.81 bushel/ac × $5.03
$828.99
Corn nonirrigated
45.24 bushel/ac × $5.03
$227.56
Dry Peas
1400.67 pound/ac × $0.15
$209.12
Grain Sorghum irrigated
77.11 bushel/ac × $5.30
$408.68
Grain Sorghum nonirrigated
31.95 bushel/ac × $5.30
$169.34
Safflower
1018.4 pound/ac × $0.28
$282.40
Soybeans
43.04 bushel/ac × $12.17
$523.80
Sunflower Seed irrigated
2104.36 pound/ac × $0.25
$528.62
Sunflower Seed nonirrigated
674.47 pound/ac × $0.25
$169.43
Wheat irrigated
57.2 bushel/ac × $6.98
$399.26
Wheat nonirrigated
34.89 bushel/ac × $6.98
$243.53
Dollars per base acre, before the 85% payment-acre factor and sequestration. Source: FSA ARC-CO 2026 county data.
2025 program year final payment ratesFSA file of Nov 2, 2026
Crop
Guarantee
Actual revenue
ARC payment
Barley
$451.49
$810.81
$0.00
Canola
$298.95
$251.02
$39.86
Corn irrigated
$715.85
$896.56
$0.00
Corn nonirrigated
$231.19
$402.40
$0.00
Dry Peas
$212.90
$154.88
$28.39
Grain Sorghum irrigated
$369.58
$389.75
$0.00
Grain Sorghum nonirrigated
$177.44
$225.34
$0.00
Oats
$176.26
$81.33
$23.50
Safflower
$252.23
$160.95
$33.63
Soybeans
$463.64
$651.00
$0.00
Sunflower Seed irrigated
$468.71
$460.77
$7.94
Sunflower Seed nonirrigated
$156.83
$280.24
$0.00
Wheat irrigated
$365.11
$366.04
$0.00
Wheat nonirrigated
$237.15
$192.28
$31.62
Show the math
Crop
Benchmark yield × price
Benchmark revenue
Barley
82.24 bushel/ac × $6.10
$501.66
Canola
1280.02 pound/ac × $0.26
$332.17
Corn irrigated
158.13 bushel/ac × $5.03
$795.39
Corn nonirrigated
51.07 bushel/ac × $5.03
$256.88
Dry Peas
1601.59 pound/ac × $0.15
$236.55
Grain Sorghum irrigated
77.48 bushel/ac × $5.30
$410.64
Grain Sorghum nonirrigated
37.2 bushel/ac × $5.30
$197.16
Oats
51.0 bushel/ac × $3.84
$195.84
Safflower
1018.4 pound/ac × $0.28
$280.26
Soybeans
42.33 bushel/ac × $12.17
$515.16
Sunflower Seed irrigated
2074.85 pound/ac × $0.25
$520.79
Sunflower Seed nonirrigated
694.24 pound/ac × $0.25
$174.25
Wheat irrigated
58.12 bushel/ac × $6.98
$405.68
Wheat nonirrigated
37.75 bushel/ac × $6.98
$263.50
Dollars per base acre, before the 85% payment-acre factor and sequestration. Source: FSA ARC-CO 2025 county data.
PLC, 2026 FSA table of Oct 30, 2026
Crop
Reference price
Season avg price
PLC payment
Wheat /bushel
$6.35
$6.30 projected
$0.05projected
Barley /bushel
$5.58
$5.70 projected
$0.00projected
Oats /bushel
$3.05
$3.35 projected
$0.00projected
Corn /bushel
$4.42
$4.70 projected
$0.00projected
Grain Sorghum /bushel
$4.67
$4.50 projected
$0.17projected
Soybeans /bushel
$10.71
$12.00 projected
$0.00projected
PLC rates are national (paid on the farm's PLC yield). Source: FSA 2026 PLC table. FSA decides who is paid.
FSA payments in Kit Carson County
$44,243,241
5,232 payments dated Jan 23, 2025 to Dec 29, 2025 (FSA payment file 2025).
Program
Year
Total
Emergency Commodity Assistance Program
2024
$18,672,908
Supplemental disaster relief (crops)
2024
$8,240,005
Supplemental disaster relief (crops)
2023
$7,125,436
ARC county payments
2024
$2,419,824
CRP annual rent
2023
$1,743,597
Agricultural Risk Coverage - Individual
2024
$1,722,014
CRP annual rent
2024
$1,282,661
CRP annual rent
2022
$1,199,951
Plus 22 smaller program lines.
County totals only: Cownty sums FSA's public payment file by county and never stores names or addresses. FSA files payments under its administrative county (Kit Carson), which may differ from where the land is. Source: FSA payment file via the FOIA reading room.
Colorado statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is on pace with normal (99% vs 98%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.
Condition
Poor or very poor
Fair
Good or excellent
Winter Wheat
12%
44%
44%
Progress
Colorado
This week
Last week
Normal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted
99%
99%
98%
Winter Wheat Emerged
90%
81%
87%
Sorghum Harvested
80%
65%
83%
Corn Harvested
77%
65%
79%
Source: USDA NASS Crop Progress released Nov 9, 2026 (ESMIS), Colorado rows. Week ending Nov 8, 2026. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.
These barns are not in a USDA AMS report, so Cownty shows no prices for them. Sale days and phones come from the barns' own sites or public listings; call the barn to confirm. More barns
Yes. Kit Carson County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 3 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 Kit Carson County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Kit Carson 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.
No official statewide list to check: Cownty doesn't read an official statewide burn-ban list for Colorado; county commissions, sheriffs and fire districts post local fire restrictions, so check your county's own notices.
What sale barns are near Kit Carson County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Brush (86 mi), last report Nov 13, 2026; Sterling (96 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; Imperial (98 mi), last report Nov 6, 2026.
Source: USDA AMS Market News reports
What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?
Next: Nov 20, 2026: Colorado EQIP/CSP/RCPP/ACEP application ranking cutoff (FY 2027); 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.
