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Powell County, MT

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

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Drought No droughtNone · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Not listedFSA 2026 list Burn ban Checkcall the county Nearest barn –no 5-wt steer sale

Powell County rain, outlook and forecast

The Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Powell County, MT with no drought, though 7% at abnormally dry (D0); four weeks earlier 0% of the county was abnormally dry (D0) or worse, now 7%. Rain has run 68% of normal over the last 30 days (below normal); Tuesday carries the week's highest rain chance at 93% (high 34°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans toward near-normal rain. FSA has not added Powell County to its 2026 LFP list.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 68% of normal
  • Last 60 days not read yet
  • Last 90 days not read yet

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 toward near-normal rain
  • 8-14 day outlook (Nov 22–28) Leans toward near-normal rain

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

Next 7 days

  1. Today Mostly Sunny, high 50°, low 28°, 5% rain, wind 0–3 mph
  2. Monday Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Rain, high 46°, low 28°, 91% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  3. Tuesday Light Snow, high 34°, low 23°, 93% rain, wind 2–3 mph
  4. Wednesday Areas Of Fog, high 35°, low 19°, 16% rain, wind 1–5 mph
  5. Thursday Chance Light Snow, high 35°, low 20°, 28% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  6. Friday Slight Chance Light Snow, high 34°, low 18°, 22% rain, wind 1–2 mph
  7. Saturday Partly Sunny, high 35°, low 17°, 17% rain, wind 1–2 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 Powell 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.

Powell County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Powell County grew about 866 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 121% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 715 pounds per acre. That was the 3rd best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2023 at 955 pounds per acre; worst: 1996 at 574.

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 Powell 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

Powell 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)

Drought, past 12 months

0% of the county in severe drought or worse.

How to read this

Each band is how much of the county was in that drought level that week. Darker = worse. D2 (severe) and darker can trigger USDA drought pay.

Right now: 0% of the county is in severe drought or worse; some of it has been for 0 weeks running. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Nov 10, 2026.

Guide: What D0–D4 mean

See the drought map

Text me Powell County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Billings Livestock Commission Billings, MT 221 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  2. Public Auction Yards Billings, MT 221 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  3. Miles City Livestock Commission Miles City, MT 338 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 · Hay prices in Montana

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Powell County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Not on FSA's 2026 LFP county list as of Nov 5, 2026. FSA updates the list as drought changes.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Nov 5, 2026

What is the drought level in Powell County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Powell County was in no drought, and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 7% 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 Powell County?

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

What sale barns are near Powell County?

No USDA-reported sale barn within 200 miles.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Micro Farm 2027: last day to buy crop insurance; Nov 20, 2026: Whole Farm Revenue Protection 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.