As September settles in and pivot irrigators begin their annual shutdown, Jefferson County's agricultural community is emerging from one of the hardest irrigation seasons in years — battered by drought, reduced water allocations, and a summer that refused to cool.

The Oregon Water Resources Department and state climatologists flagged 2026 early as a year to watch. By April, 94 percent of Jefferson County was classified under severe drought conditions, with the remainder under moderate drought. Governor Tina Kotek's drought emergency declaration for Jefferson County, issued that spring, confirmed what farmers already knew from their headgates and soil moisture meters.

Reduced Allocations Hit Hay and Pasture Hard

Hay production — a cornerstone of Jefferson County's agricultural economy — took the hardest hits this season. Ranchers who rely on North Unit Irrigation District deliveries reported receiving a fraction of their normal allotments during key summer growth windows, forcing some to fallow ground they would normally cut two or three times.

Cattle producers faced the secondary crunch: shorter hay supplies mean tighter feed inventories heading into winter, and the forage shortfall is already pushing some operators to sell down their herds earlier than planned.

"You can only stretch it so far," said one Jefferson County rancher who asked not to be named. "When you don't have enough water, you don't have enough hay. And when you don't have enough hay, you start making hard decisions about your cattle."

North Unit Irrigation District Response

The North Unit Irrigation District, which serves agricultural land across a large swath of Jefferson County, worked through the summer to prioritize deliveries and communicate shortfalls as early as possible. District managers encouraged growers to take advantage of any late-season moisture and to document losses thoroughly for potential future disaster assistance programs.

The state drought declaration opened doors to some federal and state assistance pathways, though local producers say the paperwork and timeline of relief programs rarely match the speed of on-the-ground need.

Looking Toward 2027

Water managers and forecasters are cautious about next year. Snowpack projections for the Cascade Range — the primary source of Central Oregon's irrigation water — won't be meaningful until late winter, but multi-year precipitation deficits make optimism difficult.

  • Farmers are encouraged to contact the Jefferson County Extension Service for drought planning resources
  • The USDA Farm Service Agency has information on Emergency Loan programs at local offices in Madras
  • North Unit Irrigation District office: (541) 475-3851

The Jefferson County Extension Office, in partnership with Oregon State University, is expected to host a late-season agricultural roundtable in October to discuss recovery planning, cover crop options, and irrigation efficiency resources for 2027.