Madison County rain, outlook and forecast
The Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Madison County, TX in moderate drought (D1), with 43% at severe drought (D2); week 1 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Madison County has had 55% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 58% over 90 days; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain and the best rain chance this week is 92% on Tuesday (high 75°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Madison County with up to 2 monthly payments, and Giddings is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 80 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 55% of normal
- Last 60 days 76% of normal
- Last 90 days 58% 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
- Today Mostly Sunny, high 84°, low 63°, 3% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Monday Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny, high 84°, low 65°, 55% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Tuesday Showers And Thunderstorms, high 75°, low 50°, 92% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 73°, low 48°, 1% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Thursday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 76°, low 48°, 16% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 72°, low 46°, 3% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 71°, low 46°, 18% rain, wind 0–5 mph
National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 1, 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 Madison County is Dec 1, 2026, 30 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.
Madison County grass production
In 2025, grassland and pasture in Madison County grew about 4,265 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 117% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 3,643 pounds per acre. That was the 5th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2017 at 4,605 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,270.
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 1 open
| What happened | Started | Tell FSA early by | FSA deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severe drought (D2) began (U.S. Drought Monitor) | Oct 27, 2026 | Nov 26, 2026 (25 days left) | Mar 1, 2027 |
If this cost you livestock, extra feed or hauled water, call your county FSA office now, while it's fresh. The 30-day date is a suggestion from Cownty; FSA's deadline for the notice of loss and application is the March 1 date. Log it in your Drought Ledger · Find your FSA office and phone
Information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. FSA decides eligibility. Cownty sends nothing to FSA.
Drought-sale tax flag IRS list
Madison 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)
5-wt steers, nearest barns
Steers 500–599 lb, $/cwt, weekly average.
| Barn | Last sale | 5-wt steers |
|---|---|---|
| Giddings 80 mi | Oct 26 | $359 |
How to read this
Each line is one barn's head-weighted average for 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) in that week; gaps are weeks with no sale or no lots that size. Past sales, not a bid.
Dollars per hundredweight ($/cwt, per 100 lb), calculated from USDA AMS Market News sale reports (Medium & Large 1 and 1-2). Not a USDA-published average. ≈ $/head = $/cwt × the middle of the weight class ÷ 100.
Guide: How to read a USDA sale barn report
Price history · Barn map · Fed vs feeder cattle
All weights at the 1 nearest barns
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Madison County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Madison 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 Madison County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Madison County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 43% of the county. 1 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Madison County?
No burn ban is listed for Madison County. Check with the county before burning.
What sale barns are near Madison County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Giddings (80 mi), last report Oct 26, 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.