With autumn officially here and harvest season shifting into full gear across Jefferson County, farmers and ranchers are taking stock of what has been a punishing year for Central Oregon agriculture.

Jefferson County entered 2026 under significant water stress, and conditions deteriorated through the spring. In April, Governor Tina Kotek signed an executive order declaring drought emergencies in six Oregon counties — including Jefferson and neighboring Crook County — citing historically low snowpack, one of the warmest winters in state history, and multi-year precipitation deficits stretching back to 2023.

Severe Drought Across Nearly the Entire County

At the time of the April declaration, approximately 94% of Jefferson County was classified as being in severe drought, with the remainder in moderate drought. That placed Jefferson County among the hardest-hit in the state — a critical reality for an agricultural community that depends on Deschutes River basin flows, irrigation district allocations, and seasonal snowmelt to sustain operations.

The drought affected every segment of local agriculture. Hay growers faced reduced water availability earlier in the season, and some producers were forced to cut cuttings short or reduce acreage. Cattle ranchers navigated high feed costs and reduced grazing capacity on dryland pastures baked dry by the summer heat. Smaller produce operations struggled with irrigation constraints at the height of the growing season.

Fall Harvest Taking Shape

Despite the difficult conditions, fall harvest is now underway across the region. Producers are bringing in remaining hay, processing seed crops, and rotating livestock off summer grazing allotments. The season-end also brings difficult decisions about herd sizes — a calculation that weighs high input costs, reduced water, and uncertainty about next year's conditions.

As of early September, approximately 90% of Oregon remained under some level of drought classification, meaning that meaningful relief has yet to materialize. The key variable for 2027 will be winter snowpack — which won't begin building until November or December — and whether early precipitation can begin to recharge reservoir storage and soil moisture.

Help Available for Producers

State and federal programs remain available to Jefferson County producers impacted by drought conditions:

  • USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA): Emergency loans, Livestock Forage Disaster Program, and Emergency Livestock Assistance Program. Local FSA office: (541) 475-6668.
  • Oregon Department of Agriculture: Drought assistance coordination and water rights guidance.
  • Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District: On-farm water efficiency assistance and conservation planning support.

For many Jefferson County producers, this fall marks not just the end of a hard season — but the beginning of planning for whatever 2027's water year brings. The hope, after two dry winters, is that the mountains get some help this year.