Morton County rain, outlook and forecast
Most of Morton County, KS was abnormally dry (D0) on the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map; four weeks earlier 87% of the county was in moderate drought (D1) or worse, now 0%. Rain has run 106% of normal over the last 30 days (near normal) and 170% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; today carries the week's highest rain chance at 82% (high 70°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 6–10 leans toward near-normal rain. Morton County (county seat: Elkhart) is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Beaver, 75 miles away.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 106% of normal
- Last 60 days 219% of normal
- Last 90 days 170% 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 6–10) Leans toward near-normal rain
- 8-14 day outlook (Nov 8–14) Leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain)
NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Oct 31, 2026. Source.
Next 7 days
- Today Mostly Cloudy, high 70°, low 56°, 82% rain, wind 15–26 mph
- Monday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 70°, low 44°, 61% rain, wind 18–28 mph
- Tuesday Mostly Sunny, high 59°, low 38°, 7% rain, wind 9–30 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 64°, low 39°, 30% rain, wind 10 mph
- Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 60°, low 37°, 13% rain, wind 6–15 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 63°, low 40°, 15% rain, wind 7–8 mph
- Saturday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 62°, low 39°, 25% rain, wind 8–12 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 Morton 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
Morton 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver 75 mi | Oct 27 | $433 |
| Dalhart 90 mi | Oct 29 | $413 |
| Dodge City 107 mi | Oct 28 | $391 |
How to read this
Each line is one barn's head-weighted average for 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) in that week; gaps are weeks with no sale or no lots that size. Past sales, not a bid.
Dollars per hundredweight ($/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
All weights at the 3 nearest barns
6 more within 200 mi: La Junta Winter (109 mi), La Junta LJLC (113 mi), Wildorado (139 mi), Woodward (144 mi), Pratt (175 mi), Tulia (183 mi).
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Printable county brief (PDF) · Everything on one page · Hay prices in Kansas · County seat: Elkhart
Common questions and nearby counties
Is Morton County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Morton County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 4 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 Morton County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Morton County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 100% of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Morton County?
No official statewide list to check: Kansas has no statewide official burn-ban list; county commissions set bans and announce them locally (county emergency management or sheriff).
What sale barns are near Morton County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Beaver (75 mi), last report Oct 27, 2026; Dalhart (90 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Dodge City (107 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026.
Source: USDA AMS Market News reports
What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?
Next: Nov 20, 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.