Jefferson County farmers and ranchers entered 2026 already bracing for a difficult season. A historically warm winter, record-low snowpack, and multi-year precipitation deficits combined to push the county into severe drought conditions by spring — and summer has only deepened the squeeze. Now, with the Round Butte Fire burning through drought-stressed grass, brush, and juniper west of Madras, the agricultural community is contending with a compounding crisis.

Drought Declaration

Governor Tina Kotek declared a drought emergency for Jefferson County in April, part of a sweeping second drought declaration in 2026 that also covered Crook, Grant, Jackson, Morrow, and Wallowa counties. According to the Oregon Drought Monitor, 94 percent of Jefferson County was covered by severe drought, with the remainder in moderate drought — leaving essentially no part of the county unaffected.

The drought declaration unlocks state and federal assistance, expedites water rights processes, and allows agencies to more quickly respond to drought impacts on farms, ranches, fish, and communities.

North Unit Irrigation District: Tight Allotments

The water situation hit home for farmers in March, when the North Unit Irrigation District board approved significantly reduced water allotments for the 2026 season. Farmers were allocated 1.30 acre-feet per acre from the Deschutes River and just 0.65 acre-feet per acre from the Crooked River — well below what most operations need to produce a full crop.

For row crop growers, that math is brutal. Mint, potatoes, grass seed, and small grains — the backbone of Jefferson County agriculture — all require consistent water throughout a dry Central Oregon summer. Producers have had to make difficult choices about which fields to irrigate, which crops to prioritize, and in some cases, whether to leave ground fallow entirely.

Drought as a Fire Driver

The same conditions hammering farmers are also fueling the current wildfire threat. Drought-stressed vegetation — dry grass, cured brush, and juniper stands that received little spring moisture — burns intensely and spreads fast. The Round Butte Fire, which ignited Friday afternoon five miles west of Madras and grew to 1,039 acres overnight, is burning across Crooked River National Grassland and private land in conditions that fire officials described as a “Particularly Dangerous Situation.”

Burn restrictions have been in place across Jefferson County for weeks, and fire danger ratings remain critically high across Central and Eastern Oregon. The Oregon State Fire Marshal urges all residents and landowners to:

  • Avoid all open burning, including debris piles and ditch burning
  • Keep equipment away from dry vegetation and carry fire suppression tools when operating in fields
  • Maintain defensible space around structures and outbuildings
  • Have evacuation plans and go-bags ready

Looking Ahead

Oregon’s Water Resources Department noted that conditions in 2026 are comparable to 2015, one of the most damaging drought years in Oregon history. Without significant late-season precipitation, streamflows will remain low through fall and groundwater recharge heading into winter may be insufficient.

For Jefferson County’s farming community — which has weathered previous droughts and fire seasons — resilience is not a new concept. But back-to-back years of tight water, combined with fire risk that now threatens farms as well as forests, are testing even the most experienced operators. State and federal agricultural assistance programs remain available; producers are encouraged to contact the USDA Farm Service Agency office in Madras for information on drought relief programs.