Santa Fe County rain, outlook and forecast
The Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Santa Fe County, NM in moderate drought (D1), with 1% at severe drought (D2); week 31 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Rain has run 185% of normal over the last 30 days (well above normal) and 285% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain and the NWS forecast peaks at a 99% rain chance on today (high 61°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Santa Fe County with up to 5 monthly payments, and Belen is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 70 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 185% of normal
- Last 60 days 422% of normal
- Last 90 days 285% 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 toward near-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 Showers And Thunderstorms, high 61°, low 40°, 99% rain, wind 10–30 mph
- Monday Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 52°, low 35°, 53% rain, wind 10–30 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 58°, low 34°, 0% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 58°, low 34°, 13% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 57°, low 34°, 1% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 58°, low 35°, 16% rain, wind 5–10 mph
- Saturday Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers, high 56°, low 33°, 16% rain, wind 5–15 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 Santa Fe 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
Santa Fe 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: 475 lb per acre, a little below normal (95% of the 1991-2020 average of 499).
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 (67% 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 Santa Fe County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Santa Fe 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.
What is the drought level in Santa Fe County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Santa Fe County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 1% of the county. 31 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Santa Fe County?
No burn ban is listed for Santa Fe County. Check with the county before burning.
What sale barns are near Santa Fe County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Belen (70 mi), last report Oct 30, 2026; Roswell (168 mi), last report Oct 26, 2026; Clovis (174 mi), last report Oct 28, 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: 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.