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Lake County, MT

No sale barn with a published report is within 100 miles of Lake County, Montana. This page still has drought, programs and weather for the county when those are loaded.

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Drought Abnormally dryD0 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Not listedFSA 2026 list Burn ban Checkcall the county Nearest barn –no 5-wt steer sale

Lake County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Lake County, MT was abnormally dry (D0) on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, with 6% at moderate drought (D1); 6% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, up from 0% four weeks earlier. Rain has run 54% of normal over the last 30 days (below normal); Tuesday carries the week's highest rain chance at 83% (high 37°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain. FSA has not added Lake County to its 2026 LFP list.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 54% of normal
  • Last 60 days not read yet
  • Last 90 days not read yet

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 toward near-normal rain
  • 8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28) Leans toward near-normal rain

NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 14, 2026. Source.

Next 7 days

  1. Today Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain, high 49°, low 35°, 50% rain, wind 2–6 mph
  2. Monday Light Rain Likely, high 41°, low 32°, 78% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  3. Tuesday Patchy Fog, high 37°, low 29°, 83% rain, wind 2–3 mph
  4. Wednesday Patchy Fog, high 35°, low 26°, 13% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Snow, high 34°, low 26°, 22% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  6. Friday Slight Chance Light Snow, high 34°, low 26°, 22% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  7. Saturday Partly Sunny, high 35°, low 25°, 21% rain, wind 1 mph

National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 15, 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 Lake 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.

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.

Lake County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Lake County grew about 1,375 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 110% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,252 pounds per acre. That was the 6th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 1998 at 1,578 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 804.

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 Lake 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

Lake 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)

FSA grain loan rates (2026)

What FSA will lend on stored grain, per bushel. Lets you hold grain instead of selling at harvest.

CropLake CountyNational average
Corn$2.71 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.32 /cwt
($2.42 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.67 /bu $6.82 /bu
Hard red winter wheat$3.61 /bu $3.72 /bu
Hard red spring wheat$4.04 /bu $3.72 /bu
Soft white wheat$3.90 /bu $3.72 /bu
Durum wheat$5.79 /bu $3.72 /bu

County marketing-loan rates. Sorghum's county rate is set per 100 lb; the per-bushel figure uses 56 lb a bushel. Source: FSA 2026 corn/sorghum/soybean schedule, wheat schedule, national rates. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

FSA farm loan interest rates

FSA direct loanRate
Farm Operating - Direct5.625%
Farm Operating - Microloan5.625%
Farm Ownership - Direct6.250%
Farm Ownership - Microloan6.250%
Farm Ownership - Direct, Joint Financing4.250%
Farm Ownership - Down Payment2.250%
Emergency Loan - Amount of Actual Loss3.750%

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.

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PLC, 2026 FSA table of Oct 30, 2026

CropReference priceSeason avg pricePLC payment
Wheat /bushel$6.35$6.30 projected$0.05 projected
Barley /bushel$5.58$5.70 projected$0.00 projected
Oats /bushel$3.05$3.35 projected$0.00 projected
Corn /bushel$4.42$4.70 projected$0.00 projected
Grain Sorghum /bushel$4.67$4.50 projected$0.17 projected
Soybeans /bushel$10.71$12.00 projected$0.00 projected

PLC rates are national (paid on the farm's PLC yield). Source: FSA 2026 PLC table. FSA decides who is paid.

FSA payments in Lake County

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Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

Montana crop and pasture condition

Montana statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is on pace with normal (97% vs 97%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent
Winter Wheat1%36% 63%

Progress

MontanaThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted97%95%97%
Winter Wheat Emerged84%75%83%

Source: USDA NASS Crop Progress released Nov 9, 2026 (ESMIS), Montana rows. Week ending Nov 8, 2026. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Text me Lake County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Billings Livestock Commission Billings, MT 292 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  2. Public Auction Yards Billings, MT 292 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  3. Toppenish Livestock Commission Toppenish, WA 306 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 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 Montana

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Lake County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Not on FSA's 2026 LFP county list as of Nov 5, 2026. FSA updates the list as drought changes.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Nov 5, 2026

What is the drought level in Lake County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Lake County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 6% of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Nov 10, 2026

Is there a burn ban in Lake County?

No official statewide list to check: Cownty doesn't read an official statewide burn-ban list for Montana; county commissions, sheriffs and fire districts post local fire restrictions, so check your county's own notices.

What sale barns are near Lake County?

No USDA-reported sale barn within 200 miles.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Cherries 2027: last day to buy crop insurance; 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.