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Rio Grande County, CO

No sale barn with a published report is within 100 miles of Rio Grande County, Colorado. This page still has drought, programs and weather for the county when those are loaded.

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Rio Grande 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 No droughtNone · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Checkcall the county La Junta LJLC 5-wt steers $398▲ $19 since last sale

Rio Grande County rain, outlook and forecast

On the Nov 10 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Rio Grande County, CO showed no drought; four weeks earlier 100% of the county was in moderate drought (D1) or worse, now 0%. Over 90 days rain is at 205% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 296% (well above normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 20–24 leans wetter than normal (40% chance of above-normal rain) and the NWS forecast peaks at a 88% rain chance on Tuesday (high 29°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Rio Grande County with up to 4 monthly payments, and La Junta LJLC is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 157 miles.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 296% of normal
  • Last 60 days not read yet
  • Last 90 days 205% 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 (40% 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 Sunny, high 30°, low 21°, 0% rain, wind 5 mph
  2. Monday Sunny, high 34°, low 21°, 1% rain, wind 0–15 mph
  3. Tuesday Slight Chance Snow Showers, high 29°, low 20°, 88% rain, wind 10–35 mph
  4. Wednesday Slight Chance Snow Showers then Sunny, high 23°, low 16°, 17% rain, wind 10–35 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers, high 27°, low 22°, 70% rain, wind 10–25 mph
  6. Friday Snow Showers Likely, high 23°, low 16°, 70% rain, wind 15–25 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 21°, low 12°, 6% 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 Rio Grande 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.

Rio Grande County grass production

In 2025, grassland and pasture in Rio Grande County grew about 403 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 84% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 482 pounds per acre. That was the 6th lowest of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2001 at 609 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 339.

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 Rio Grande 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

Rio Grande 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.

CropRio Grande CountyNational average
Corn$2.70 /bu $2.42 /bu
Grain sorghum$4.57 /cwt
($2.56 /bu)
 $2.42 /bu
Soybeans$6.42 /bu $6.82 /bu
Hard red winter wheat$3.35 /bu $3.72 /bu
Hard red spring wheat$3.59 /bu $3.72 /bu
Soft white wheat$3.78 /bu $3.72 /bu
Durum wheat$6.57 /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 $866.72 $115.56
Canola $320.69 $42.76
Oats $303.53 $40.47
Wheat $541.07 $72.14
Show the math
CropBenchmark yield × priceBenchmark revenue
Barley149.77 bushel/ac × $6.43$963.02
Canola1373.11 pound/ac × $0.26$356.32
Oats85.6 bushel/ac × $3.94$337.26
Wheat86.13 bushel/ac × $6.98$601.19

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 $848.31 $841.71$6.60
Canola $327.80 $287.26$40.54
Corn $673.61 $749.55$0.00
Oats $259.89 $322.74$0.00
Sunflower Seed $191.77 $305.59$0.00
Wheat $559.60 $432.98$74.61
Show the math
CropBenchmark yield × priceBenchmark revenue
Barley154.52 bushel/ac × $6.10$942.57
Canola1403.55 pound/ac × $0.26$364.22
Corn148.8 bushel/ac × $5.03$748.46
Oats75.2 bushel/ac × $3.84$288.77
Sunflower Seed848.94 pound/ac × $0.25$213.08
Wheat89.08 bushel/ac × $6.98$621.78

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 Rio Grande County

$5,470,741

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

ProgramYearTotal
Marketing Assistance For Specialty Crops2025$3,245,761
Emergency Commodity Assistance Program2024$387,549
Supp Disaster Relief Spec Crops 12024$373,504
Emergency Livestock Relief (2023-24 drought)2023$370,684
Supp Disaster Relief Spec Crops 12023$258,874
Supplemental disaster relief (crops)2024$229,854
Livestock Forage Disaster Program (Cof)2025$130,290
CRP annual rent2016$115,145

Plus 11 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 (Rio Grande), 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 Rio Grande County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. La Junta Livestock Commission La Junta, CO 157 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Nov 11, 2026
  2. Winter Livestock (Tuesday) La Junta, CO 164 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Nov 10, 2026
  3. Cattlemen's Livestock Belen, NM 189 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 2026
  4. Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Dalhart, TX 237 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Nov 12, 2026
  5. Livestock Exchange (Friday feeder cattle) Brush, CO 244 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Nov 13, 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 Colorado

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Rio Grande County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Rio Grande 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 Nov 5, 2026

What is the drought level in Rio Grande County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Nov 10, 2026, most of Rio Grande County was in no drought, and the worst part was no drought on 0% of the county. 0 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 Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: La Junta LJLC (157 mi), last report Nov 11, 2026; La Junta Winter (164 mi), last report Nov 10, 2026; Belen (189 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.