It has been a summer of hard choices for Jefferson County agriculture. Between historically low snowpack heading into the season, a drought emergency declaration from Governor Tina Kotek in April, and weeks of smoke and heat, local farmers and ranchers are pushing through one of the most challenging growing years in recent memory.

The North Unit Irrigation District (NUID) set the tone in March when its board approved sharply reduced water allotments for the 2026 season: 1.30 acre-feet per acre from the Deschutes River and just 0.65 acre-feet per acre from the Crooked River — both significantly below typical allotments. That forced farmers to make early decisions about which fields to plant, which to fallow, and how to stretch every drop.

Drought Emergency Declared

Jefferson County is among the Oregon counties operating under a drought emergency order signed by Governor Kotek on April 21. The declaration — which covers Jefferson, Crook, Grant, Jackson, Morrow, and Wallowa counties — unlocks state resources and streamlines access to emergency water management tools. Portions of Jefferson County are classified under extreme drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The 2026 drought has been compared to the devastating 2015 snow drought, which affected 25 of Oregon’s 36 counties and caused significant crop losses statewide.

What’s Being Grown — and What Isn’t

Jefferson County’s agricultural economy is built on a diverse mix of crops, including potatoes, wheat, grass seed, mint, hops, and hay, as well as cattle ranching on rangeland. This summer, many producers report fallowing acreage they would normally irrigate, prioritizing their most productive ground and highest-value crops with limited water.

The financial ripple effects reach beyond the farm gate. Reduced harvests mean less business for local ag suppliers, truckers, and processors. Ranchers facing dried-up rangeland have been forced to sell livestock early or purchase costly supplemental feed.

Help Available

Farmers facing hardship can explore several assistance programs:

  • USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA): Emergency loan programs and Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)
  • NRCS: Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) for damaged farmland
  • Oregon Department of Agriculture: Drought assistance resources at oregon.gov/oda
  • Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District: Long-term drought resiliency planning support

The Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District also leads a multi-partner drought resiliency strategy group funded through NRCS, working with growers, ranchers, county officials, and university researchers to prepare for future dry years.

For many in the county, the calculus has become achingly familiar: do the best you can with what you have, and hope for better snowpack next winter.