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Pitkin County, CO

No sale barn with a published report is within 100 miles of Pitkin County, Colorado. This page still has drought, programs and weather for the county when those are loaded.

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Pitkin County is on FSA's list (since Sep 1, 2026). Check with your FSA county office first. Details · FSA list as of Nov 5, 2026.
Drought SevereD2 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 5 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Brush 5-wt steers $435▲ $7 since last sale

Pitkin County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Pitkin County, CO was in severe drought (D2), with 5% at exceptional drought (D4); week 81 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Pitkin County has had 126% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 78% over 90 days, so the past month has been wetter than the season so far; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (40% chance of above-normal rain) and the best rain chance this week is 97% on Tuesday (high 50°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Pitkin County with up to 5 monthly payments, and Brush is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 189 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 126% of normal
  • Last 60 days not read yet
  • Last 90 days 78% of normal

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 (40% chance of above-normal rain)
  • 8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28) Leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain)

NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 14, 2026. Source.

Next 7 days

  1. Today Sunny, high 46°, low 27°, 1% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  2. Monday Partly Sunny, high 53°, low 29°, 0% rain, wind 0–10 mph
  3. Tuesday Mostly Sunny then Rain And Snow Showers Likely, high 50°, low 29°, 97% rain, wind 0–15 mph
  4. Wednesday Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 40°, low 23°, 33% rain, wind 5–10 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers, high 47°, low 28°, 72% rain, wind 5–15 mph
  6. Friday Snow Showers, high 42°, low 23°, 92% rain, wind 0–10 mph
  7. Saturday Chance Snow Showers, high 38°, low 20°, 45% rain, wind 0–5 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 Pitkin 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.

Pitkin County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Pitkin County grew about 426 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 101% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 423 pounds per acre. That was the 15th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2015 at 544 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 273.

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 Pitkin 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

Pitkin 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)

FSA grain loan rates (2026)

What FSA will lend on stored grain, per bushel. Lets you hold grain instead of selling at harvest.

CropPitkin CountyNational average
Corn$2.63 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.59 /cwt
($2.57 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.42 /bu $6.82 /bu
Hard red winter wheat$3.30 /bu $3.72 /bu
Hard red spring wheat$3.69 /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 9, 2026.

FSA farm loan interest rates

FSA direct loanRate
Farm Operating - Direct5.625%
Farm Operating - Microloan5.625%
Farm Ownership - Direct6.250%
Farm Ownership - Microloan6.250%
Farm Ownership - Direct, Joint Financing4.250%
Farm Ownership - Down Payment2.250%
Emergency Loan - Amount of Actual Loss3.750%

Set nationally by FSA; the same in every county. Effective Nov 1, 2026. Source: FSA current loan interest rates. Fetched Nov 9, 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.

2025 program year final payment rates FSA file of Nov 2, 2026

CropGuaranteeActual revenueARC payment
Oats $190.98 $137.50$25.46
Wheat $189.09 $185.55$3.54
Show the math
CropBenchmark yield × priceBenchmark revenue
Oats55.26 bushel/ac × $3.84$212.20
Wheat30.1 bushel/ac × $6.98$210.10

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 30, 2026

CropReference priceSeason avg pricePLC 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 Pitkin County

$39,270

16 payments dated Jan 17, 2025 to Nov 24, 2025 (FSA payment file 2025).

ProgramYearTotal
Marketing Assistance For Specialty Crops2025$33,298
Livestock Forage Disaster Program (Cof)2025$4,609
Supplemental disaster relief (crops)2023$898
Supplemental disaster relief (crops)2024$464

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 (Pitkin), which may differ from where the land is. Source: FSA payment file via the FOIA reading room.

Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

Colorado crop and pasture condition

Colorado statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is on pace with normal (99% vs 98%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent
Winter Wheat12%44% 44%

Progress

ColoradoThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted99%99%98%
Winter Wheat Emerged90%81%87%
Sorghum Harvested80%65%83%
Corn Harvested77%65%79%

Source: USDA NASS Crop Progress released Nov 9, 2026 (ESMIS), Colorado rows. Week ending Nov 8, 2026. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Text me Pitkin County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Livestock Exchange (Friday feeder cattle) Brush, CO 189 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  2. La Junta Livestock Commission La Junta, CO 197 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  3. Winter Livestock (Tuesday) La Junta, CO 202 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  4. Sterling Livestock Commission Sterling, CO 220 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  5. Torrington Livestock Commission Co. (feeder cattle) Torrington, WY 244 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 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

Other barns nearby (not USDA-reported)

These barns are not in a USDA AMS report, so Cownty shows no prices for them. Sale days and phones come from the barns' own sites or public listings; call the barn to confirm. More barns

Printable county brief (PDF) · Everything on one page · Hay prices in Colorado

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Pitkin County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Pitkin County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 5 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.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Nov 5, 2026

What is the drought level in Pitkin County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Pitkin County was in severe drought (D2), and the worst part was exceptional drought (D4) on 5% of the county. 81 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 Pitkin County?

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

What sale barns are near Pitkin County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Brush (189 mi), last report Nov 13, 2026; La Junta LJLC (197 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Colorado EQIP/CSP/RCPP/ACEP application ranking cutoff (FY 2027); 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.