Sumner County rain, outlook and forecast
The Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Sumner County, KS abnormally dry (D0), with 7% at severe drought (D2); some part has been in severe drought (D2) or worse for 8 straight weeks. Sumner County has had 81% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 101% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; Monday carries the week's highest rain chance at 70% (high 74°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Sumner County with up to 1 monthly payment, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Pratt, 71 miles away.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 81% of normal
- Last 60 days 126% of normal
- Last 90 days 101% 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 Mostly Cloudy, high 72°, low 64°, 20% rain, wind 10–22 mph
- Monday Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 74°, low 54°, 70% rain, wind 8–24 mph
- Tuesday Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny, high 65°, low 45°, 32% rain, wind 7–21 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 67°, low 44°, 23% rain, wind 5–9 mph
- Thursday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 63°, low 42°, 18% rain, wind 5–10 mph
- Friday Sunny, high 65°, low 44°, 1% rain, wind 3–6 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 67°, low 46°, 25% rain, wind 3–8 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 Sumner 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.
Sumner County grass production
In 2025, grassland and pasture in Sumner County grew about 2,564 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 119% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,158 pounds per acre. That was the 7th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 2,761 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 933.
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 Sumner 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
Sumner 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pratt 71 mi | Oct 29 | $452 |
| Salina 109 mi | Oct 29 | $423 |
| Tulsa 117 mi | Oct 26 | $413 |
How to read this
Each line is one barn's head-weighted average for 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) in that week; gaps are weeks with no sale or no lots that size. Past sales, not a bid.
Dollars per hundredweight ($/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
Price history · Barn map · Fed vs feeder cattle
All weights at the 3 nearest barns
8 more within 200 mi: Woodward (118 mi), El Reno (120 mi), Dodge City (142 mi), Apache (169 mi), Beaver (170 mi), Ada (177 mi), Siloam Springs (179 mi), McAlester (186 mi).
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Sumner County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Sumner County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 1 monthly payment 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 Sumner County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Sumner County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 7% of the county. 8 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Sumner 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 Sumner County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Pratt (71 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Salina (109 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Tulsa (117 mi), last report Oct 26, 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.