New Mexico Drought Status

Limited monsoon activity across New Mexico has provided little relief to ongoing drought conditions across the state and the entire state remains in moderate to extreme drought (Figure 5a). The numbers have changed little since last month, but the area classified with severe or more elevated drought has grown slightly, from 79 percent in mid-July to 85 percent in mid-August (Figure 5b). This shift towards worsening conditions occurred in the southwestern corner of the state, where meager monsoon precipitation has led to worsening short-term drought conditions.

The USDA will continue to open up disaster assistance and aid programs to support farmers and ranchers impacted by drought across New Mexico (New Mexico Business Weekly, August 9). More than $600,000 will be available to farmers and ranchers in New Mexico through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to support the development and improvement of livestock watering facilities and water conservation practices.