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
- Today Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 69°, low 50°, 77% rain, wind 12–29 mph
- Monday Mostly Sunny, high 61°, low 42°, 14% rain, wind 7–31 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 60°, low 42°, 0% rain, wind 3–7 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 64°, low 44°, 0% rain, wind 3–13 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 64°, low 43°, 0% rain, wind 5–12 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 62°, low 44°, 18% rain, wind 5–8 mph
- 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)
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Where it is, with barns within 200 mi
Dots are sale barns USDA reports on. Tap one for its latest prices.
Grass grown on rangeland and pasture
Grass grown in 2025: 220 lb per acre, well below normal (57% of the 1991-2020 average of 384).
How to read this
Each bar is one year's grass (darker = perennial grasses, lighter = annuals). The dashed line is the 1991-2020 average. A county average with cropland excluded, not your pasture.
How we got this
Satellite estimate of new above-ground growth of grasses and forbs for the year (annual + perennial, lb/acre), averaged over the county's grassland, pasture and shrubland (72% of the county in USDA's 2025 cropland map; farm fields are left out because the estimate isn't valid there, and the same 2025 map is used for every year). About about 120 m (RAP overview). Source: Rangeland Analysis Platform biomass v3 (data, Jones et al. 2021, CC0) and USDA NASS Cropland Data Layer.
Source: Rangeland Analysis Platform, 2025 season. Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
Useful links
Shipping cattle out of Texas
Each state sets its own entry rules for ID, health certificates and screwworm checks. Look up the state you're shipping to before you load.
- InterstateLivestock.com state-by-state entry rules
Source: InterstateLivestock.com (third-party site) · link checked Nov 1, 2026
- APHIS cattle animal disease traceability decision tree (PDF)
Source: USDA APHIS · link checked Nov 1, 2026
Link only. Cownty doesn't copy or check this content; follow the source.
AgriLife events in the High Plains
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension meetings, field days and CEU programs in the Panhandle.
- High Plains events and learning
Source: Texas A&M AgriLife · link checked Nov 1, 2026
Link only. Cownty doesn't copy or check this content; follow the source.
When to pull cattle off wheat
Grazing past first hollow stem cuts grain yield. Oklahoma State's guide explains how to check a field, and its yearly trial reports first-hollow-stem dates by variety.
- Fall forage and first hollow stem dates by wheat variety, 2025–2026
Source: Oklahoma State University Extension · link last confirmed Oct 17, 2026 (site blocks automated checks)
- First hollow stem: a critical wheat growth stage (how to check)
Source: Oklahoma State University Extension · link last confirmed Oct 17, 2026 (site blocks automated checks)
Link only. Cownty doesn't copy or check this content; follow the source.
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.
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.
Is there a burn ban in Otero County?
No burn ban is listed for Otero County. Check with the county before burning.
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.