Jefferson County farmers are bracing for a difficult end to the growing season as a severe drought — officially declared a state emergency by Gov. Tina Kotek in April — continues to bear down on the region heading into late August.
The county is among nine across Oregon operating under drought emergency status this year, driven by historically low snowpack, one of the warmest winters on record, and multi-year precipitation deficits. Portions of Jefferson and neighboring Crook County are classified under extreme drought conditions by the U.S. Drought Monitor — the second-most severe category on the scale.
North Unit Cuts Water Allotments
The North Unit Irrigation District, which delivers water to tens of thousands of acres of farmland in Jefferson County, approved reduced allotments for the 2026 season at its March board meeting. Farmers are receiving:
- 1.30 acre-feet per acre from the Deschutes River (down from normal allocations)
- 0.65 acre-feet per acre from the Crooked River
Those numbers represent a significant reduction for producers growing water-intensive crops like hay, potatoes, wheat, and grass seed — the backbone of the Jefferson County agricultural economy.
A Season of Hard Choices
With less water to go around, many farmers have had to make difficult decisions: letting some fields go dry, shifting to less water-intensive crops, or cutting herd sizes to reduce grazing pressure on stressed rangeland.
Ranchers across the county have also been dealing with the compounding effects of wildfire smoke drifting in from the Bench Fire and other blazes, which has at times reduced visibility and created air quality conditions that slow outdoor fieldwork.
"Every year you hope it turns around, but this one has been particularly hard," said one Culver-area farmer who asked not to be named. "Between the water cuts and the smoke, we’ve been playing defense all summer."
Resources Available
Farmers facing hardship this season have several resources available:
- The USDA Farm Service Agency (Madras office: 541-475-3884) is administering drought-related emergency loan and assistance programs
- The Oregon Department of Agriculture has information on drought assistance programs at oregon.gov/ODA
- The Jefferson County Extension Service offers agronomic guidance and water conservation planning for producers
Harvest is expected to run through September for most crops, and county agricultural officials are cautiously optimistic that yields, while reduced, won’t be catastrophic — provided no additional weather events intervene before crops can come in.
The North Unit Irrigation District board is expected to review season-end water availability and begin planning for 2027 allocations this fall.