Ward County rain, outlook and forecast
The Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Ward County, TX in moderate drought (D1), with 3% at severe drought (D2); some part has been in severe drought (D2) or worse for 6 straight weeks. Rain has run 177% of normal over the last 30 days (well above normal) and 74% over 90 days, so the past month has been wetter than the season so far; no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 16% rain chance and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Ward County with up to 3 monthly payments, and Roswell is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 154 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 177% of normal
- Last 60 days 109% of normal
- Last 90 days 74% 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 wetter than normal (33% chance of above-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 Partly Sunny, high 81°, low 63°, 2% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Monday Sunny, high 81°, low 54°, 3% rain, wind 5–20 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 71°, low 49°, 0% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 76°, low 51°, 0% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 73°, low 48°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 68°, low 50°, 15% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 69°, low 50°, 16% rain, wind 5 mph
National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 1, 2026. Wind, warnings and burn bans.
Open loss windows
No open loss windows in Ward 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
A county next to Ward County is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (Ector County, TX, Loving County, TX, Pecos County, TX, Reeves County, TX). The IRS counts your county plus every county touching it.
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: 143 lb per acre, well below normal (27% of the 1991-2020 average of 528).
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 (90% 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 Ward County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Ward County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 3 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 Ward County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Ward County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 3% of the county. 6 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Ward County?
Yes, a burn ban is in effect for Ward County (since Mar 8, 2021). Check with the county before burning.
What sale barns are near Ward County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Roswell (154 mi), last report Oct 26, 2026; San Angelo (157 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Clovis (199 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026.
Source: USDA AMS Market News reports
What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?
Next: Nov 13, 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.