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Otero County, NM

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Otero 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 Santa Teresa 5-wt steers $378▼ $21 since last sale

Otero County rain, outlook and forecast

As of the Oct 27 Drought Monitor, most of Otero County, NM was abnormally dry (D0), with 23% at severe drought (D2); week 32 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Otero County has had 226% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 192% over 90 days, so the past month has been wetter than the season so far; today carries the week's highest rain chance at 77% (high 69°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain). Otero County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Santa Teresa, 74 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 226% of normal
  • Last 60 days 274% of normal
  • Last 90 days 192% 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 wetter than normal (33% chance of above-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 Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 69°, low 50°, 77% rain, wind 12–29 mph
  2. Monday Mostly Sunny, high 61°, low 42°, 14% rain, wind 7–31 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 60°, low 42°, 0% rain, wind 3–7 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 64°, low 44°, 0% rain, wind 3–13 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 64°, low 43°, 0% rain, wind 5–12 mph
  6. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 62°, low 44°, 18% rain, wind 5–8 mph
  7. Saturday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 62°, low 41°, 19% rain, wind 8–13 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 Otero 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

Otero 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

23% of the county in severe drought or worse, 32 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: 23% of the county is in severe drought or worse; some of it has been for 32 weeks running. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Oct 27, 2026.

Guide: What D0–D4 mean

See the drought map

Text me Otero County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Santa Teresa Livestock Auction Santa Teresa, NM 74 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Oct 30, 2026
  2. Roswell Livestock Auction Roswell, NM 90 mi · sells Mondays · latest USDA report Oct 26, 2026
  3. Cattlemen's Livestock Belen, NM 161 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Oct 30, 2026
  4. Clovis Livestock Auction Clovis, NM 191 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Oct 28, 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 New Mexico

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Otero County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Otero 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 Otero County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Otero County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 23% of the county. 32 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 Otero County?

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

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

What sale barns are near Otero County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Santa Teresa (74 mi), last report Oct 30, 2026; Roswell (90 mi), last report Oct 26, 2026; Belen (161 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: Apples 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.