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Washington County, IA

Cattle prices near Washington County, Iowa. The closest sale barn with a recent report is Sigourney IA in Sigourney, IA, about 25 miles away. On Nov 2, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $421.17 per hundredweight on 243 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

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Drought No droughtNone · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Not listedFSA 2026 list Burn ban Checkcall the county Sigourney IA 5-wt steers $421per cwt

Washington County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Washington County, IA showed no drought on the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map. Rain has run 107% of normal over the last 30 days (near normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (50% chance of above-normal rain) and the NWS forecast peaks at a 69% rain chance on Saturday (high 64°). Washington County is not on FSA's 2026 LFP list yet, and Sigourney IA is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 25 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 107% of normal
  • Last 60 days 163% of normal
  • 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 wetter than normal (50% chance of above-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°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 54°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 5–10 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 57°, low 39°, 0% rain, wind 5–15 mph
  4. Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 59°, low 48°, 19% rain, wind 15–20 mph
  5. Thursday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 60°, low 43°, 15% rain, wind 0–15 mph
  6. Friday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 63°, low 51°, 47% rain, wind 5–20 mph
  7. Saturday Rain Showers Likely, high 64°, low 40°, 69% rain, wind 15–20 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 Washington 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.

Washington County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Washington County grew about 2,555 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 134% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,903 pounds per acre. That was the 1st best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2025 at 2,555 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 465.

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 Washington 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

Washington 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 Washington County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Keoco Auction Company LLC (feeder cattle) Sigourney, IA 25 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 2, 2026
  2. Bloomfield Livestock Market (feeder cattle) Bloomfield, IA 54 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 4, 2026
  3. Tama Livestock Auction (feeder cattle) Tama, IA 62 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Sep 14, 2026
  4. Russell Livestock Market (feeder cattle) Russell, IA 80 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Nov 9, 2026
  5. Unionville Livestock Market Unionville, MO 89 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Oct 27, 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 Iowa

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Washington 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 Washington County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Washington County was in no drought, and the worst part was no drought on 0% 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 Washington County?

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

What sale barns are near Washington County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Sigourney IA (25 mi), last report Nov 2, 2026; Bloomfield IA (54 mi), last report Nov 4, 2026; Tama IA (62 mi), last report Sep 14, 2026.

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.