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Louisa County, IA

Cattle prices near Louisa County, Iowa. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Sigourney IA in Sigourney, IA, about 50 miles away. On Nov 2, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $421.17 per hundredweight on 243 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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Louisa County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Louisa County, IA with no drought. Rain has run 72% of normal over the last 30 days (below normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (50% chance of above-normal rain) and the NWS forecast peaks at a 67% rain chance on Saturday (high 65°). Louisa County is not on FSA's 2026 LFP list yet, and Sigourney IA is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 50 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 72% of normal
  • Last 60 days 132% of normal
  • 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 wetter than normal (50% chance of above-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, high 51°, low 29°, 0% rain, wind 0 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 55°, low 35°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 58°, low 39°, 0% rain, wind 5–10 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 60°, low 48°, 18% rain, wind 10–15 mph
  5. Thursday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 62°, low 44°, 17% rain, wind 0–10 mph
  6. Friday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 64°, low 52°, 38% rain, wind 0–15 mph
  7. Saturday Rain Showers Likely, high 65°, low 41°, 67% rain, wind 10–15 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 Louisa 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.

Louisa County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Louisa County grew about 2,378 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 141% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,686 pounds per acre. That was the 1st best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2025 at 2,378 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 444.

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 Louisa 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

A county next to Louisa County is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (Henry County, IA, Washington County, IA). The IRS counts your county plus every county touching it.

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 pasture pay (LFP)

Not on FSA's 2026 list as of the latest file.

FSA "Counties & Pasture Types Eligible for 2026 LFP", file dated Nov 5, 2026 (download). FSA decides eligibility. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

USDA disaster declarations

No USDA disaster declarations in the current or prior crop-year files.

"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. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

CRP emergency haying and grazing

Not on the list Louisa County is not on FSA's emergency haying and grazing list as of Nov 5, 2026. Non-emergency haying and grazing may still be allowed outside the primary nesting season.

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 Nov 5, 2026 · map · FSA program page. FSA posts a new file every Thursday. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Screwworm (Texas Animal Health Commission)

Data pending. animal-health alerts are read for Texas (TAHC) and Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico (state ag departments); Iowa's state veterinarian isn't read yet
New FSA programs: watch list

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Keoco Auction Company LLC (feeder cattle) Sigourney, IA 50 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 2, 2026
  2. Bloomfield Livestock Market (feeder cattle) Bloomfield, IA 69 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 4, 2026
  3. Tama Livestock Auction (feeder cattle) Tama, IA 85 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Sep 14, 2026
  4. F&T Livestock Market Palmyra, MO 99 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  5. Russell Livestock Market (feeder cattle) Russell, IA 103 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 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

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Louisa 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 Louisa County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Louisa 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.

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

Is there a burn ban in Louisa County?

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

What sale barns are near Louisa County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Sigourney IA (50 mi), last report Nov 2, 2026; Bloomfield IA (69 mi), last report Nov 4, 2026; Tama IA (85 mi), last report Sep 14, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Micro Farm 2027: last day to buy crop insurance; Nov 20, 2026: Whole Farm Revenue Protection 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.