Mason County rain, outlook and forecast
Most of Mason County, TX showed no drought on the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map, though 26% at abnormally dry (D0); 0% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, down from 7% four weeks earlier. Mason County has had 166% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 182% over 90 days; Monday carries the week's highest rain chance at 80% (high 81°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain). FSA has not added Mason County to its 2026 LFP list, and San Angelo is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 88 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 166% of normal
- Last 60 days 246% of normal
- Last 90 days 182% 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 wetter than normal (33% chance of above-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 Partly Sunny, high 79°, low 64°, 3% rain, wind 5–10 mph
- Monday Mostly Sunny, high 81°, low 58°, 80% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 70°, low 47°, 8% rain, wind 0–15 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 73°, low 49°, 1% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 75°, low 48°, 1% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 69°, low 47°, 11% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Saturday Chance Rain Showers, high 68°, low 47°, 26% rain, wind 0–10 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 Mason 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 Mason County is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (Gillespie County, TX, Llano County, TX, McCulloch County, TX, San Saba County, TX). 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)
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FSA grain loan rates (2026)
What FSA will lend on stored grain, per bushel. Lets you hold grain instead of selling at harvest.
| Crop | Mason County | National average |
|---|---|---|
| Corn | $2.62 /bu | $2.42 /bu |
| Grain sorghum | $4.39 /cwt ($2.46 /bu) |
$2.42 /bu |
| Soybeans | $6.67 /bu | $6.82 /bu |
| Hard red winter wheat | $3.64 /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 1, 2026.
FSA farm loan interest rates
| FSA direct loan | Rate |
|---|---|
| Farm Operating - Direct | 5.375% |
| Farm Operating - Microloan | 5.375% |
| Farm Ownership - Direct | 6.250% |
| Farm Ownership - Microloan | 6.250% |
| Farm Ownership - Direct, Joint Financing | 4.250% |
| Farm Ownership - Down Payment | 2.250% |
| Emergency Loan - Amount of Actual Loss | 3.750% |
Set nationally by FSA; the same in every county. Effective Oct 1, 2026. Source: FSA current loan interest rates. Fetched Nov 1, 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 only FSA file of Jan 16, 2026
| Crop | Guarantee | Most it can pay |
|---|---|---|
| Oats | $150.10 | $20.01 |
| Peanuts | $962.85 | $128.38 |
| Wheat | $155.79 | $20.77 |
Show the math
| Crop | Benchmark yield × price | Benchmark revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Oats | 42.33 bushel/ac × $3.94 | $166.78 |
| Peanuts | 3396.27 pound/ac × $0.32 | $1,069.83 |
| Wheat | 24.8 bushel/ac × $6.98 | $173.10 |
Dollars per base acre, before the 85% payment-acre factor and sequestration. Source: FSA ARC-CO 2026 county data.
2025 program year final payment rates FSA file of Sep 30, 2026
| Crop | Guarantee | Actual revenue | ARC payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barley | $192.15 | $16.38 | $25.62 |
| Corn | $318.38 | $199.68 | $42.45 |
| Grain Sorghum | $194.00 | $73.40 | $25.87 |
| Oats | $169.34 | $174.42 | $0.00 |
| Peanuts | $857.46 | $536.27 | $114.33 |
| Seed Cotton | $218.10 | $100.54 | $29.08 |
| Sunflower Seed | $220.02 | $272.25 | $0.00 |
| Wheat | $172.00 | $15.18 | $22.93 |
Show the math
| Crop | Benchmark yield × price | Benchmark revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Barley | 35.0 bushel/ac × $6.10 | $213.50 |
| Corn | 70.33 bushel/ac × $5.03 | $353.76 |
| Grain Sorghum | 40.67 bushel/ac × $5.30 | $215.55 |
| Oats | 49.0 bushel/ac × $3.84 | $188.16 |
| Peanuts | 3024.53 pound/ac × $0.32 | $952.73 |
| Seed Cotton | 562.13 pound/ac × $0.43 | $242.33 |
| Sunflower Seed | 974.0 pound/ac × $0.25 | $244.47 |
| Wheat | 27.38 bushel/ac × $6.98 | $191.11 |
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 9, 2026
| Crop | Reference price | Season avg price | PLC 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 Mason County
$2,588,926
789 payments dated Feb 5, 2025 to Dec 23, 2025 (FSA payment file 2025).
| Program | Year | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Livestock Forage Disaster Program (Cof) | 2025 | $1,232,366 |
| Emergency Livestock Relief (2023-24 drought) | 2023 | $895,156 |
| Emerg Assist Livestock Bees Fish (Elap) | 2025 | $104,923 |
| Emergency Commodity Assistance Program | 2024 | $91,853 |
| Emerg Assist Livestock Bees Fish (Elap) | 2024 | $91,067 |
| Ecp Financial Assistance Cof | – | $62,195 |
| ARC county payments | 2024 | $27,736 |
| Non-Insured Assistance Program | 2024 | $22,320 |
Plus 11 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 (Mason), which may differ from where the land is. Source: FSA payment file via the FOIA reading room.
Crop conditions (statewide)
Texas crop and pasture condition
Texas statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is on pace with normal (70% vs 70%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Oct 25, 2026.
| Condition | Poor or very poor | Fair | Good or excellent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pasture and Range | 45% | 35% | 20% +2 vs last week |
| Corn | 35% | 30% | 35% +0 vs last week |
| Cotton | 52% | 30% | 18% +0 vs last week |
| Peanut | 23% | 38% | 39% -1 vs last week |
Progress
| Texas | This week | Last week | Normal (5-yr avg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Wheat Planted | 70% | 64% | 70% |
| Winter Wheat Emerged | 55% | 46% | 46% |
| Sorghum Harvested | 95% | 90% | 97% |
| Cotton Harvested | 55% | 46% | 43% |
| Corn Harvested | 95% | 92% | 95% |
Wheat pasture condition
Source: USDA NASS Crop Progress released Oct 26, 2026 (ESMIS), Texas rows. Week ending Oct 25, 2026. Fetched Oct 26, 2026.
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Mason County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Not on FSA's 2026 LFP county list as of Oct 29, 2026. FSA updates the list as drought changes.
What is the drought level in Mason County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Mason County was in no drought, and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 26% of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Mason County?
No burn ban is listed for Mason County. Check with the county before burning.
What sale barns are near Mason County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: San Angelo (88 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Giddings (142 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.