Washington County rain, outlook and forecast
As of the Oct 27 Drought Monitor, most of Washington County, KS showed no drought. Washington County has had 98% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 147% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; today carries the week's highest rain chance at 90% (high 74°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 8–12 leans drier than normal (40% chance of below-normal rain). FSA has not added Washington County to its 2026 LFP list, and Salina is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 72 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 98% of normal
- Last 60 days 173% of normal
- Last 90 days 147% of normal
NOAA river forecast center rain (radar plus gauges) at the county center, Nov 2, 2026. Source.
Rain outlook
- 6-10 day outlook (Nov 8–12) Leans drier than normal (40% chance of below-normal rain)
- 8-14 day outlook (Nov 10–16) Leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain)
NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 2, 2026. Source.
Next 7 days
- Today Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 74°, low 50°, 90% rain, wind 5–20 mph
- Tuesday Rain Showers, high 57°, low 41°, 84% rain, wind 10–20 mph
- Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 57°, low 38°, 3% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 57°, low 35°, 11% rain, wind 5–10 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 56°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 59°, low 37°, 9% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Sunday Sunny, high 61°, low 37°, 4% rain, wind 0–10 mph
National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 2, 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, 29 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 2,401 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 100% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,405 pounds per acre. That was the 20th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 2,693 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,086.
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
Neither Washington County nor any county touching it is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salina 72 mi | Oct 29 | $423 |
| Kearney 123 mi | Oct 28 | $451 |
| West Point 144 mi | Nov 2 | $433 |
How to read this
Each line is one barn's head-weighted average for 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) in that week; gaps are weeks with no sale or no lots that size. Past sales, not a bid.
Dollars per hundredweight ($/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.
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Washington County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Not on FSA's 2026 LFP county list as of Oct 29, 2026. FSA updates the list as drought changes.
What is the drought level in Washington County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 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.
Is there a burn ban in Washington 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 Washington County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Salina (72 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Kearney (123 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; West Point (144 mi), last report Nov 2, 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.