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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)

Drought pasture pay (LFP)

On FSA's 2026 list for 5 pasture types. Up to 4 monthly payments.

Bring head counts, grazing leases and pasture acres to your county FSA office.

How to read this

Each bar is a pasture type; the number is how many monthly payments it qualifies for (1 to 5).

Pasture table
Pasture typeGrazing periodQualifying datePayments
Full Season Improved2026-05-15 to 2026-10-152026-05-154
Long Season Small Grains2025-11-01 to 2026-05-012026-03-244
Native Pasture2026-05-15 to 2026-10-152026-05-154
Forage Sorghum2026-07-15 to 2026-09-302026-07-152
Short Ssn Spring Sml Grn2026-05-15 to 2026-07-312026-05-152

FSA "Counties & Pasture Types Eligible for 2026 LFP", file dated Nov 5, 2026 (download). FSA decides eligibility. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: How LFP works and who qualifies

Guide: ELAP and LIP basics

USDA disaster declarations

  • Jun 29, 2026 · Drought
    Neighboring county declared (counts for Rio Grande) · crop year 2026
  • Apr 24, 2026 · Drought
    Rio Grande declared · crop year 2026
  • Jun 2, 2025 · Drought
    Neighboring county declared (counts for Rio Grande) · crop year 2025
  • Mar 31, 2025 · Drought
    Neighboring county declared (counts for Rio Grande) · crop year 2025
  • Mar 25, 2025 · Drought
    Rio Grande declared · crop year 2025

"Declared" means USDA named this county. "Neighboring" means it touches a declared county. Either way, FSA emergency loans can open for about 8 months. FSA designation files (dated Jan 28, 2026, Oct 19, 2026). Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: What a disaster designation means

CRP emergency haying and grazing

Open Rio Grande County is on FSA's emergency haying and grazing list, starting Sep 1, 2026. Trigger: D2 (severe) drought on the Drought Monitor. Get an updated conservation plan from FSA before cutting or turning out.

Before haying and grazing, contact your FSA county office to see if your county remains eligible and/or obtain a modified conservation plan. This list is cumulative for the year and current local conditions may have changed.

Source: FSA eligible-county table posted Nov 5, 2026 · map · FSA program page. FSA posts a new file every Thursday. Fetched Nov 9, 2026.

Guide: CRP emergency haying and grazing rules

Screwworm (Texas Animal Health Commission)

Data pending. animal-health alerts are read for Texas (TAHC) and Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico (state ag departments); Colorado's state veterinarian isn't read yet

Guide: Screwworm: what to know

New FSA programs: watch list
DateScopeReleaseFlag
Nov 4, 2026MississippiUSDA Designates one Tennessee Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
Nov 4, 2026Hawaii and Pacific IslandsUSDA Extends Application Deadline for Emergency Conservation Program Assistance for Guam and CNMI Counties for Typhoon Bavi Impacts
Nov 4, 2026NebraskaUSDA Authorizes Deadline Extension for Emergency Conservation Program in Several Wildfire-Impacted Counties
Nov 4, 2026FloridaUSDA Designates 9 Alabama Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
Nov 3, 2026AlabamaUSDA Designates 9 Alabama Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
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.