This dataset contains long-term precipitation measurements from graduated rain gauges (GRGs) at 21 sites in the Jornada Basin of southern New Mexico, USA. Gauges are located on the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) and the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (CDRRC), and this set of gauges includes all 15 net primary production (NPP) study sites monitored by the Jornada Basin LTER program. At each site a 4 inch diameter cylindrical graduated rain gauge (11" x 0.01" capacity) is mounted on a 4x4 inch diameter redwood post or a wooden exclosure post next to gate at or near each site. For NPP sites, the primary collection is made on the day that monthly hydroprobe soil water content measurements are made. This enables correlation of precipitation with belowground soil water content. Additional data collections during the month may be made in coordination with other studies. Observations at each site come primarily from GRGs. However, at some sites in the NPP study, GRGs were not installed until later, and the nearest available rain gauge in the area has been used to gapfill the precipitation record prior to installation (details in methods section). Rain gauge identity and field measurement date is recorded with each observation in the data file. Other gauge types that may be listed are the Standard Can Gauge (DSRG or dipstick rain gauge), Belfort Weigh Bucket Rain Gauge (WBRG), and Qualimetrics Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge (TBRG). Data collection is ongoing for all 21 gauges in this dataset.