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Taos County, NM

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CRP emergency haying & grazing: Taos 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 ModerateD1 · most of county Drought pay (LFP) Eligibleup to 4 payments Burn ban Noneno ban now Belen 5-wt steers $375▲ $17 since last sale

Taos County rain, outlook and forecast

Most of Taos County, NM was in moderate drought (D1) on the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map, with 34% at severe drought (D2); week 83 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Over 90 days rain is at 215% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 226% (well above normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain and the NWS forecast peaks at a 91% rain chance on today (high 56°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Taos County with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Belen, 141 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 226% of normal
  • Last 60 days 300% of normal
  • Last 90 days 215% 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

  1. Today Showers And Thunderstorms, high 56°, low 36°, 91% rain, wind 15–20 mph
  2. Monday Scattered Rain Showers, high 48°, low 27°, 53% rain, wind 5–15 mph
  3. Tuesday Sunny, high 53°, low 26°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  4. Wednesday Isolated Rain Showers, high 53°, low 26°, 15% rain, wind 0–15 mph
  5. Thursday Sunny, high 53°, low 26°, 0% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  6. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 54°, low 26°, 9% rain, wind 0–5 mph
  7. Saturday Sunny, high 53°, low 26°, 12% rain, wind 5–10 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 Taos 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

Taos 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

34% of the county in severe drought or worse, 83 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: 34% of the county is in severe drought or worse; some of it has been for 83 weeks running. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Oct 27, 2026.

Guide: What D0–D4 mean

See the drought map

Text me Taos County changes

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Cattlemen's Livestock Belen, NM 141 mi · sells Fridays · latest USDA report Oct 30, 2026
  2. La Junta Livestock Commission La Junta, CO 145 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Oct 28, 2026
  3. Winter Livestock (Tuesday) La Junta, CO 152 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Oct 27, 2026
  4. Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Dalhart, TX 175 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Oct 29, 2026
  5. Clovis Livestock Auction Clovis, NM 203 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 Taos County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Taos 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 Taos County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Taos County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 34% of the county. 83 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 Taos County?

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

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

What sale barns are near Taos County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Belen (141 mi), last report Oct 30, 2026; La Junta LJLC (145 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; La Junta Winter (152 mi), last report Oct 27, 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.