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Chaves County, NM

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Chaves County is on FSA's list (since Sep 1, 2026). Check with your FSA county office first. Details · FSA list as of Oct 29, 2026.
Drought Abnormally dryD0 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Noneno ban now Roswell 5-wt steers $383▲ $2 since last sale

Chaves County rain, outlook and forecast

As of the Oct 27 Drought Monitor, most of Chaves County, NM was abnormally dry (D0), with 18% at severe drought (D2); week 148 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Over 90 days rain is at 184% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 239% (well above normal); the NWS forecast peaks at a 24% rain chance on today (high 74°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Chaves County with up to 4 monthly payments, and Roswell is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 4 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 239% of normal
  • Last 60 days 280% of normal
  • Last 90 days 184% 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

  1. Today Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 74°, low 54°, 24% rain, wind 10–20 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 75°, low 45°, 0% rain, wind 5–15 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 68°, low 40°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 71°, low 43°, 1% rain, wind 0–10 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 68°, low 41°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  6. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 68°, low 45°, 16% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  7. Saturday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 68°, low 43°, 22% rain, wind 0–5 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 Chaves 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

Chaves 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

18% of the county in severe drought or worse, 148 weeks running.

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: 18% of the county is in severe drought or worse; some of it has been for 148 weeks running. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Oct 27, 2026.

Guide: What D0–D4 mean

See the drought map

Text me Chaves County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Roswell Livestock Auction Roswell, NM 4 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Oct 26, 2026
  2. Clovis Livestock Auction Clovis, NM 101 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Oct 28, 2026
  3. Santa Teresa Livestock Auction Santa Teresa, NM 164 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Oct 30, 2026
  4. Cattlemen's Livestock Belen, NM 165 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Oct 30, 2026
  5. Tulia Livestock Auction Tulia, TX 174 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Oct 29, 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

Other barns nearby (not USDA-reported)

These barns are not in a USDA AMS report, so Cownty shows no prices for them. Sale days and phones come from the barns' own sites or public listings; call the barn to confirm. More barns

Printable county brief (PDF) · Everything on one page · Hay prices in New Mexico

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Chaves County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Chaves County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 4 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.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Oct 29, 2026

What is the drought level in Chaves County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Chaves County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 18% of the county. 148 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Oct 27, 2026

Is there a burn ban in Chaves County?

No burn ban is listed for Chaves County. Check with the county before burning.

Source: official state burn-ban map, as of Oct 6, 2026

What sale barns are near Chaves County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Roswell (4 mi), last report Oct 26, 2026; Clovis (101 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; Santa Teresa (164 mi), last report Oct 30, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 10, 2026: First half of property taxes due to the county treasurer; 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.