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El Paso County, CO

Cattle prices near El Paso County, Colorado. The closest sale barn with a recent report is La Junta LJLC in La Junta, CO, about 77 miles away. On Nov 11, 5-weight steers (500–599 lb) averaged $398.48 per hundredweight on 258 head (USDA). Check a bid against your own costs with Ring Price.

Check a bid with Ring Price

Change county
CRP emergency haying & grazing: El Paso County is on FSA's list (since Sep 1, 2026). Check with your FSA county office first. Details · FSA list as of Nov 5, 2026.
Drought SevereD2 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 5 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county La Junta LJLC 5-wt steers $398▲ $19 since last sale

El Paso County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of El Paso County, CO was in severe drought (D2), with 11% at extreme drought (D3); some part has been in severe drought (D2) or worse for 22 straight weeks. Over 90 days rain is at 70% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 90% (near normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (50% chance of above-normal rain) and no day in the 7-day forecast tops a 19% rain chance. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes El Paso County with up to 5 monthly payments, and La Junta LJLC is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 77 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 90% of normal
  • Last 60 days not read yet
  • Last 90 days 70% of normal

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 wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain)

NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 14, 2026. Source.

Next 7 days

  1. Today Patchy Fog, high 45°, low 31°, 0% rain, wind 5–10 mph
  2. Monday Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny, high 55°, low 32°, 0% rain, wind 0–10 mph
  3. Tuesday Mostly Sunny, high 60°, low 36°, 3% rain, wind 5–15 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 56°, low 30°, 2% rain, wind 5–10 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 52°, low 32°, 1% rain, wind 5–15 mph
  6. Friday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 57°, low 29°, 18% rain, wind 5–15 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers, high 48°, low 26°, 19% rain, wind 5–15 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 El Paso 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.

El Paso County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in El Paso County grew about 1,260 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 120% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,051 pounds per acre. That was the 6th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2015 at 1,571 pounds per acre; worst: 2002 at 521.

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 El Paso 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

El Paso 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)

FSA grain loan rates (2026)

What FSA will lend on stored grain, per bushel. Lets you hold grain instead of selling at harvest.

CropEl Paso CountyNational average
Corn$2.62 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.27 /cwt
($2.39 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.42 /bu $6.82 /bu
Hard red winter wheat$3.53 /bu $3.72 /bu

County marketing-loan rates. Sorghum's county rate is set per 100 lb; the per-bushel figure uses 56 lb a bushel. Source: FSA 2026 corn/sorghum/soybean schedule, wheat schedule, national rates. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

FSA farm loan interest rates

FSA direct loanRate
Farm Operating - Direct5.625%
Farm Operating - Microloan5.625%
Farm Ownership - Direct6.250%
Farm Ownership - Microloan6.250%
Farm Ownership - Direct, Joint Financing4.250%
Farm Ownership - Down Payment2.250%
Emergency Loan - Amount of Actual Loss3.750%

Set nationally by FSA; the same in every county. Effective Nov 1, 2026. Source: FSA current loan interest rates. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Farm program payments by crop (ARC and PLC)

ARC pays when county crop revenue falls below its guarantee. PLC pays when the national price falls below the reference price. You picked one per crop when you enrolled.

2026 program year guarantees only FSA file of Jan 16, 2026

CropGuaranteeMost it can pay
Barley $615.21 $82.03
Corn $404.26 $53.90
Grain Sorghum $125.93 $16.79
Oats $172.80 $23.04
Wheat $211.46 $28.19
Show the math
CropBenchmark yield × priceBenchmark revenue
Barley106.31 bushel/ac × $6.43$683.57
Corn89.3 bushel/ac × $5.03$449.18
Grain Sorghum26.4 bushel/ac × $5.30$139.92
Oats48.73 bushel/ac × $3.94$192.00
Wheat33.66 bushel/ac × $6.98$234.95

Dollars per base acre, before the 85% payment-acre factor and sequestration. Source: FSA ARC-CO 2026 county data.

2025 program year final payment rates FSA file of Nov 2, 2026

CropGuaranteeActual revenueARC payment
Barley $583.64 $801.80$0.00
Corn $465.70 $225.26$62.09
Grain Sorghum $141.96 $173.92$0.00
Oats $176.26 $137.24$23.50
Wheat $236.58 $182.16$31.54
Show the math
CropBenchmark yield × priceBenchmark revenue
Barley106.31 bushel/ac × $6.10$648.49
Corn102.87 bushel/ac × $5.03$517.44
Grain Sorghum29.76 bushel/ac × $5.30$157.73
Oats51.0 bushel/ac × $3.84$195.84
Wheat37.66 bushel/ac × $6.98$262.87

Dollars per base acre, before the 85% payment-acre factor and sequestration. Source: FSA ARC-CO 2025 county data.

PLC, 2026 FSA table of Oct 30, 2026

CropReference priceSeason avg pricePLC payment
Wheat /bushel$6.35$6.30 projected$0.05 projected
Barley /bushel$5.58$5.70 projected$0.00 projected
Oats /bushel$3.05$3.35 projected$0.00 projected
Corn /bushel$4.42$4.70 projected$0.00 projected
Grain Sorghum /bushel$4.67$4.50 projected$0.17 projected
Soybeans /bushel$10.71$12.00 projected$0.00 projected

PLC rates are national (paid on the farm's PLC yield). Source: FSA 2026 PLC table. FSA decides who is paid.

FSA payments in El Paso County

$1,010,456

150 payments dated Jan 17, 2025 to Dec 29, 2025 (FSA payment file 2025).

ProgramYearTotal
Emergency Livestock Relief (2023-24 drought)2023$415,450
CRP annual rent2022$230,365
CRP annual rent2023$178,982
CRP annual rent2025$46,117
Nap Regular Web-Based2024$39,923
CRP annual rent2024$39,243
Marketing Assistance For Specialty Crops2025$15,297
CRP annual rent2021$13,448

Plus 6 smaller program lines.

County totals only: Cownty sums FSA's public payment file by county and never stores names or addresses. FSA files payments under its administrative county (El Paso), which may differ from where the land is. Source: FSA payment file via the FOIA reading room.

Guide: ARC and PLC basics

Crop conditions (statewide)

Colorado crop and pasture condition

Colorado statewide, not just your county. Wheat planting is on pace with normal (99% vs 98%). From USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, week ending Nov 8, 2026.

ConditionPoor or
very poor		FairGood or
excellent
Winter Wheat12%44% 44%

Progress

ColoradoThis weekLast weekNormal (5-yr avg)
Winter Wheat Planted99%99%98%
Winter Wheat Emerged90%81%87%
Sorghum Harvested80%65%83%
Corn Harvested77%65%79%

Source: USDA NASS Crop Progress released Nov 9, 2026 (ESMIS), Colorado rows. Week ending Nov 8, 2026. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Text me El Paso County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. La Junta Livestock Commission La Junta, CO 77 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  2. Winter Livestock (Tuesday) La Junta, CO 80 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. Livestock Exchange (Friday feeder cattle) Brush, CO 110 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  4. Sterling Livestock Commission Sterling, CO 143 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  5. Imperial Auction Market Imperial, NE 193 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 6, 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 Colorado

Common questions and nearby counties

Is El Paso County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. El Paso County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 5 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 Nov 5, 2026

What is the drought level in El Paso County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of El Paso County was in severe drought (D2), and the worst part was extreme drought (D3) on 11% of the county. 22 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 El Paso County?

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

What sale barns are near El Paso County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: La Junta LJLC (77 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; La Junta Winter (80 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Brush (110 mi), last report Nov 13, 2026.

Source: USDA AMS Market News reports

What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?

Next: Nov 20, 2026: Colorado EQIP/CSP/RCPP/ACEP application ranking cutoff (FY 2027); 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.