LFP Trigger Watch
North Dakota counties at an LFP drought level in 2026
Each North Dakota county where fn’s weekly U.S. Drought Monitor record shows a drought level that the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) ties to monthly payments this year, with the most payments that level is tied to. A county on this list may be eligible. FSA decides eligibility, including your county’s normal grazing period and pasture type. County names link to fn’s county guide with the local FSA office.
Drought map of Oct 27, 2026. Checking for a newer weekly map…
39of 53 North Dakota counties show an LFP drought level in 2026
0at the 5-payment level
14at the 4-payment level
| County | Up to | Level reached | D3+ weeks | D4 weeks | This week | First met |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 7 | 0 | D3 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Billings County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 10 | 0 | D3 | Aug 11, 2026 |
| Bowman County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 10 | 0 | D3 | Aug 11, 2026 |
| Cass County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 9 | 0 | D3 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Golden Valley County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 10 | 0 | D3 | Jun 2, 2026 |
| Griggs County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 4 | 0 | D2 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| LaMoure County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 6 | 0 | D3 | Sep 8, 2026 |
| McKenzie County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 8 | 0 | D2 | Jun 2, 2026 |
| Ransom County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 7 | 0 | D3 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Richland County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 7 | 0 | D3 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Sargent County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 6 | 0 | D3 | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Slope County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 10 | 0 | D3 | Aug 11, 2026 |
| Steele County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 6 | 0 | D2 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Traill County | 4 payments | D3 or worse for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in at least one week | 6 | 0 | D2 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Grand Forks County | 3 payments | D3 or worse in at least one week | 1 | 0 | D1 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Nelson County | 3 payments | D3 or worse in at least one week | 1 | 0 | D1 | Sep 22, 2026 |
| Adams County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D2 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Burleigh County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D2 | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Dunn County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D2 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Emmons County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D2 | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Grant County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D2 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| McHenry County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D0 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| McLean County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D2 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Mercer County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D2 | Sep 1, 2026 |
| Morton County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D2 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Oliver County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D2 | Sep 1, 2026 |
| Sheridan County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D2 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Sioux County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D2 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Stark County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D2 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Ward County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D0 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Wells County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D1 | Sep 1, 2026 |
| Williams County | 2 payments | D2 or worse in 7 of 8 weeks | 0 | 0 | D1 | Sep 1, 2026 |
| Dickey County | 1 payment | D2 or worse for 4 weeks in a row | 0 | 0 | D2 | Sep 29, 2026 |
| Eddy County | 1 payment | D2 or worse for 4 weeks in a row | 0 | 0 | D0 | Sep 22, 2026 |
| Foster County | 1 payment | D2 or worse for 4 weeks in a row | 0 | 0 | D1 | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Hettinger County | 1 payment | D2 or worse for 4 weeks in a row | 0 | 0 | D1 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| Mountrail County | 1 payment | D2 or worse for 4 weeks in a row | 0 | 0 | D1 | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Pierce County | 1 payment | D2 or worse for 4 weeks in a row | 0 | 0 | D0 | Sep 1, 2026 |
| Stutsman County | 1 payment | D2 or worse for 4 weeks in a row | 0 | 0 | D1 | Sep 15, 2026 |
How this list works
- Drought data: fn’s weekly copy of the U.S. Drought Monitor county statistics. A week counts at the worst level touching any part of the county. The file updates each Thursday after the new map; this page reads the newest copy when it loads.
- Payment levels (7 CFR 1416.207, with the D2 change from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act): D2 for 4 weeks in a row = up to 1 monthly payment; D2 in 7 of 8 weeks = 2; D3 in any week = 3; D3 for 4 or more weeks, or D4 in any week = 4; D4 for 4 or more weeks = 5. The highest level reached in 2026 is shown.
- Grazing period: LFP counts only drought weeks inside the county’s normal grazing period. fn has a state-level native-pasture period on file for 15 states (Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming) and counts only those weeks there. In other states every week is counted, so the level shown may be higher than FSA’s. Periods can differ by county and pasture type.
- Earlier drought this year: for states with a grazing period on file, fn also checks every weekly map of 2026 (the copy published with the site), so a D2 run that ended earlier still counts. “First met” is the first map date that check reached a payment level.
- This is not FSA’s list. FSA decides which counties and producers are eligible. If your county qualifies, the application is form CCC-853 at your FSA office, due March 1 after the year of the loss (March 1, 2027 for 2026 drought), per FSA’s LFP page.
To estimate a payment for your herd, use the LFP calculator; it checks your county’s level from the same data.