Five major feedlots located within eight miles of Clayton have a combined capacity of 69,500 head of cattle and other livestock. The Five-State Livestock Auction provides a marketing center for all of Northeast New Mexico and four neighboring states. Approximately 100,000 head of cattle are marketed through the Auction each year. Eastern Union County also produces corn, wheat and sorghum grains in its rich farmland. There are 58,137 acres of irrigated cropland and 66,768 acres of dryland farming.
Major crops are corn, grain sorghum, wheat, alfalfa and potatoes.