Pawnee County rain, outlook and forecast
On the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Pawnee County, KS was abnormally dry (D0), with 16% at severe drought (D2); some part has been in severe drought (D2) or worse for 11 straight weeks. Rain has run 62% of normal over the last 30 days (below normal) and 161% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; the best rain chance this week is 64% on Monday (high 77°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain. Pawnee County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Pratt, 48 miles away.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 62% of normal
- Last 60 days 187% of normal
- Last 90 days 161% 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 Cloudy, high 65°, low 62°, 60% rain, wind 18–29 mph
- Monday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 77°, low 48°, 64% rain, wind 13–29 mph
- Tuesday Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny, high 58°, low 39°, 28% rain, wind 7–26 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 62°, low 39°, 25% rain, wind 3–8 mph
- Thursday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 58°, low 37°, 20% rain, wind 2–12 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 61°, low 40°, 3% rain, wind 2–6 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 64°, low 42°, 21% rain, wind 5–9 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 Pawnee 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.
Pawnee County grass production
In 2025, grassland and pasture in Pawnee County grew about 2,403 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 118% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,042 pounds per acre. That was the 5th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 2,532 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,058.
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 Pawnee 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
Pawnee 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)
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Where it is, with barns within 200 mi
Dots are sale barns USDA reports on. Tap one for its latest prices.
Grass grown on rangeland and pasture
Grass grown in 2025: 2,403 lb per acre, well above normal (118% of the 1991-2020 average of 2,042).
How to read this
Each bar is one year's grass (darker = perennial grasses, lighter = annuals). The dashed line is the 1991-2020 average. A county average with cropland excluded, not your pasture.
How we got this
Satellite estimate of new above-ground growth of grasses and forbs for the year (annual + perennial, lb/acre), averaged over the county's grassland, pasture and shrubland (21% of the county in USDA's 2025 cropland map; farm fields are left out because the estimate isn't valid there, and the same 2025 map is used for every year). About about 120 m (RAP overview). Source: Rangeland Analysis Platform biomass v3 (data, Jones et al. 2021, CC0) and USDA NASS Cropland Data Layer.
Source: Rangeland Analysis Platform, 2025 season. Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
Useful links
Shipping cattle out of Texas
Each state sets its own entry rules for ID, health certificates and screwworm checks. Look up the state you're shipping to before you load.
- InterstateLivestock.com state-by-state entry rules
Source: InterstateLivestock.com (third-party site) · link checked Nov 1, 2026
- APHIS cattle animal disease traceability decision tree (PDF)
Source: USDA APHIS · link checked Nov 1, 2026
Link only. Cownty doesn't copy or check this content; follow the source.
AgriLife events in the High Plains
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension meetings, field days and CEU programs in the Panhandle.
- High Plains events and learning
Source: Texas A&M AgriLife · link checked Nov 1, 2026
Link only. Cownty doesn't copy or check this content; follow the source.
When to pull cattle off wheat
Grazing past first hollow stem cuts grain yield. Oklahoma State's guide explains how to check a field, and its yearly trial reports first-hollow-stem dates by variety.
- Fall forage and first hollow stem dates by wheat variety, 2025–2026
Source: Oklahoma State University Extension · link last confirmed Oct 17, 2026 (site blocks automated checks)
- First hollow stem: a critical wheat growth stage (how to check)
Source: Oklahoma State University Extension · link last confirmed Oct 17, 2026 (site blocks automated checks)
Link only. Cownty doesn't copy or check this content; follow the source.
Common questions and nearby counties
Is Pawnee County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Pawnee 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 Pawnee County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Pawnee County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 16% of the county. 11 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Pawnee 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 Pawnee County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Pratt (48 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Dodge City (51 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; Salina (98 mi), last report Oct 29, 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.