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Polk County, FL

Cattle prices near Polk County, Florida. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Lakeland FL in Lakeland, FL, about 17 miles away. On Nov 10, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $355.63 per hundredweight on 8 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Polk 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 Abnormally dryD0 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county Lakeland FL 5-wt steers $356per cwt

Polk County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Polk County, FL was abnormally dry (D0) on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map; four weeks earlier 68% of the county was in moderate drought (D1) or worse, now 0%. Over 90 days rain is at 141% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 286% (well above normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (50% chance of above-normal rain) and the best rain chance this week is 39% on Friday (high 80°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Polk County with up to 4 monthly payments, and Lakeland FL is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 17 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 286% of normal
  • Last 60 days 153% of normal
  • Last 90 days 141% 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 (50% chance of above-normal rain)
  • 8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28) Leans wetter than normal (50% chance of above-normal rain)

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Sunny, high 75°, low 58°, 0% rain, wind 8–9 mph
  2. Monday Mostly Sunny, high 76°, low 64°, 17% rain, wind 9–15 mph
  3. Tuesday Partly Sunny, high 76°, low 64°, 17% rain, wind 10–17 mph
  4. Wednesday Chance Rain Showers, high 78°, low 65°, 30% rain, wind 12–21 mph
  5. Thursday Scattered Rain Showers, high 80°, low 66°, 34% rain, wind 12–21 mph
  6. Friday Scattered Rain Showers, high 80°, low 66°, 39% rain, wind 10–20 mph
  7. Saturday Isolated Rain Showers, high 81°, low 65°, 24% rain, wind 7–14 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 Polk 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.

Polk County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Polk County grew about 4,231 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 126% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 3,357 pounds per acre. That was the 8th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2020 at 4,490 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,180.

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 Polk 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

Polk 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)

  • Dec 1, 2026in 16 days
    Last day to buy 2027 pasture rain insurance (PRF)
    Crop insurance (RMA)
    Details and source
    Plans: Rainfall Index
    Date posted: USDA crop insurance (RMA)
    Source: USDA RMA · more · checked Aug 28, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.
    FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.206(a)
    Details and source
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.206(a) (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP): notice of loss, application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.
    FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.107
    Details and source
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.107 (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026
  • Mar 1, 2027in 106 days
    Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): notice of loss, application and papers for 2026 losses are due by this date.
    FSA disaster programs · 7 CFR 1416.305(b)
    Details and source
    Rule: 7 CFR 1416.305(b) (FSA rule, Jan 17, 2025)
    Source: USDA FSA · checked Oct 18, 2026

All deadlines and report dates · FSA disaster-program deadlines are pending (no official feed).

Guide: PRF insurance and the Dec 1 deadline

Guide: How to apply for EQIP or CSP

Guide: Ag land property tax in OK, KS and NM

Text me Polk County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Lakeland, FL 17 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  2. Arcadia Livestock Auction Arcadia, FL 52 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  3. Okeechobee Livestock Auction Okeechobee, FL 72 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  4. Columbia Livestock Auction Lake City, FL 165 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  5. Townsend Livestock Auction Madison, FL 203 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 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

Printable county brief (PDF) · Everything on one page · Nearest USDA hay reports (none for Florida): Alabama

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Polk County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Polk 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.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Nov 5, 2026

What is the drought level in Polk County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Polk County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 68% of the county. 0 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 Polk County?

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

What sale barns are near Polk County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Lakeland FL (17 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Arcadia FL (52 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026; Okeechobee FL (72 mi), last report Nov 9, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Blueberries 2027: last day to buy crop insurance; 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.