Dry ponds, fading grass put Colfax County ranchers under pressure
Johnson Mesa faces critical conditions as producers ask whether government assistance can reach them before drought forces deeper losses
By Roger M. Rael
The Raton Range
RATON — Dry ponds, weak grass and shrinking irrigation supplies are forcing Colfax County producers to make decisions that could shape ranches, tax collections and rural jobs long after summer ends.
This is Part One of The Raton Range’s continuing investigation into drought and agricultural water. The newspaper reviewed federal and state resources and obtained written answers from Troy Sauble, president of the Colfax County Farm Bureau. Future reports will seek direct answers from state agencies, lawmakers and water officials about what assistance exists, who qualifies and why local producers say meaningful state help remains difficult to identify.
Sauble said conditions range from “critical to very concerning,” depending on location. Johnson Mesa, northeast of Raton, appears to face the sharpest pressure, with little grass growth, little or no water in ponds and springs, and few wells available to replace those sources.
Around Miami and Cimarron, some moisture has supported grass, but ranchers still report limited pond and surface water for livestock. Wells and livestock water systems are carrying more of the load.
Farmers are also lowering expectations. Some may receive only one or two hay cuttings. Others are considering hay grazer, oats or winter wheat because those crops mature faster or require less water. Producers are delaying field replacement, changing planting schedules and adjusting harvest times to preserve what remains.
Sauble said he had not heard of widespread early cattle sales. Instead, ranchers are protecting cow-calf operations by reducing yearlings or not bringing them in.
The pressure arrives while the national beef herd is already unusually small. USDA reported 27.6 million beef cows on Jan. 1, the smallest inventory since 1961. Higher cattle prices may offer some support, but fuel, feed, labor, fertilizer and equipment costs continue to consume margins.
Colfax County’s geography tightens the squeeze for producers. The Office of the State Engineer places the entire county within the Canadian and Dry Cimarron basins. Sauble said most irrigated acreage depends on surface water because irrigation wells are scarce and groundwater development is heavily regulated. That means a failed runoff season cannot be easily replaced by drilling another well.
The federal government has formally recognized the damage. USDA designated Colfax County a primary drought disaster area May 26 after federal drought thresholds were met. Eligible producers may seek Farm Service Agency emergency loans through Dec. 24. Other federal programs may help cover grazing losses, feed or water transportation and emergency conservation work.
But a disaster designation is not the same as money in a rancher’s account. Loans require repayment, and other programs carry eligibility rules, documentation requirements and deadlines.
Sauble said he was unaware of comparable state-level drought assistance. State drought resources reviewed by The Raton Range emphasize monitoring, water-rights assistance and long-range conservation. New Mexico’s 50-Year Water Action Plan recognizes diminishing supplies and calls for agricultural conservation incentives, but it does not, on its face, identify immediate summer relief for dry stock ponds, lost forage or emergency livestock water.
That leaves urgent questions for Santa Fe: Is direct assistance available now? Can the state help pay for water hauling, pipelines, tanks, wells or feed transportation? How many Colfax County producers have applied for federal help, and how many have received it? What happens if monsoon rainfall arrives too late?
Agriculture’s losses do not stop at a ranch gate. Fewer livestock can reduce taxable value, employment and spending across Colfax County.
Producers are conserving water and adapting, Sauble said. The question now is whether government can move with equal urgency.
