For Jefferson County farmers and ranchers, the summer of 2026 has been one of the most water-stressed in recent memory. As August draws to a close, the cumulative effects of record-low snowpack, a historically warm winter, and multi-year precipitation deficits are being felt deeply across the county’s agricultural community.

Drought Declared — and It Shows

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared a drought emergency for Jefferson County earlier this spring, a designation that reflected what local producers already knew: the water simply wasn’t there. At the time of the declaration, 94% of Jefferson County was classified as being under severe drought, with the remainder in moderate drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The drought follows what state water officials describe as one of Oregon’s worst snow droughts on record, comparable in severity to 2015 — a year that triggered drought declarations in 25 of 36 counties statewide.

North Unit Slashes Allotments

In March, the North Unit Irrigation District board took the difficult step of cutting water allotments for the 2026 season. Farmers received:

  • 1.30 acre-feet per acre from the Deschutes River
  • 0.65 acre-feet per acre from the Crooked River

Those figures represent significant reductions from typical allotments, forcing producers to make hard choices early in the season: fallow some fields, shift to lower-water crops, reduce cattle herd size, or purchase water on the open market when available.

Hay Harvests and Cattle Decisions

For ranchers running cattle on Jefferson County’s high desert rangelands, the drought has compressed grazing seasons and driven up hay prices as regional supplies tightened. Several local producers have reported selling off portions of their herds rather than carry animals through a winter with questionable hay supply.

Dryland wheat and grass seed growers, who depend on precipitation rather than irrigation, have fared little better. Below-average spring rainfall followed by an early, hot summer shortened growing windows and reduced yields across much of the county.

Looking Ahead

The Oregon Water Resources Department continues to monitor streamflow and reservoir conditions across the Deschutes Basin. While late-summer conditions rarely change dramatically, the outlook for fall recharge — and ultimately for 2027 snowpack — will be closely watched by Jefferson County producers hoping for relief.

Federal disaster designation through the USDA Farm Service Agency may be available for qualifying producers. Farmers facing hardship are encouraged to contact the Jefferson County FSA office at 541-475-6648 to explore loan, payment deferral, and emergency assistance programs.

"Every year we think we’ve seen it all, and then a year like this comes along," said one longtime Jefferson County irrigator who asked not to be named. "You just do what you can and hope the snow comes back next winter."

The Madras Bulletin will continue tracking drought conditions and their impact on Jefferson County agriculture as the region moves toward fall.