As November sets in across Jefferson County, local farmers and ranchers are taking stock of a punishing 2026 season that combined severe drought, reduced water allotments, and a destructive fire season into one of the most difficult agricultural years in recent memory.
A Season Defined by Drought
At its peak, severe drought conditions covered 94 percent of Jefferson County — the highest classification on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale. The situation prompted Governor Tina Kotek to declare a drought emergency in Jefferson County and five other Oregon counties — Crook, Grant, Jackson, Morrow, and Wallowa — marking the second such declaration issued in 2026.
The declaration unlocked state assistance programs and directed agency resources toward affected agricultural producers, but for many farmers the damage was already done by the time relief mechanisms were activated.
North Unit Irrigation District Cuts Allotments
The North Unit Irrigation District, which serves tens of thousands of acres of irrigated cropland around Madras, responded to the tight water supply early in the season by approving reduced water allotments. Growers received 1.30 acre-feet per acre from the Deschutes River and just 0.65 acre-feet from the Crooked River — well below what many potato, wheat, and hay operations need for full production.
The cuts rippled through the county's agricultural economy. Some producers fallowed fields. Others made difficult decisions about which crops to prioritize and which ground to leave dry.
Federal Programs Available
USDA Farm Service Agency programs — including Emergency Loans and Livestock Forage Disaster Program payments — have offered some relief. Producers who have not yet connected with FSA are encouraged to reach out to the Madras field office before year-end application deadlines.
Additional assistance will be available at a Wildfire Recovery Multi-Agency Resource Event on Nov. 10 in Madras, where USDA FSA and Natural Resources Conservation Service staff will be on hand to discuss both drought and fire-related programs. See the related story in today's edition.
Eyes on This Winter
Water managers and farm operators are now watching early snowpack and precipitation forecasts closely. After back-to-back difficult seasons, the Deschutes Basin needs a substantial wet winter to begin recharging reservoirs and groundwater that supply the county's irrigation systems. The National Resources Conservation Service issues monthly snowpack updates through the winter, and this year those reports will be followed with particular attention across Jefferson County farmland.