Jefferson County's agricultural community is facing a difficult summer as reduced water allotments, a dry winter, and months of persistent drought conditions squeeze farms and ranches across the region.
North Unit Cuts Allotments for 2026
The North Unit Irrigation District (NUID) board voted in late March to reduce water allotments for the 2026 season, approving 1.30 acre-feet per acre from the Deschutes River and 0.65 acre-feet per acre from the Crooked River — well below what many operations need for a full production year.
The district serves tens of thousands of acres of farmland in Jefferson County, delivering water to potato, wheat, hay, and specialty crop operations that form the backbone of the local agricultural economy. Reduced allotments force growers to make hard choices: fallow fields, cut herd sizes, or purchase supplemental water at higher cost.
A Bleak Year Statewide
Jefferson County's situation mirrors conditions across Oregon. A winter that brought well-below-normal snowpack left reservoirs and streams running low heading into the irrigation season. Oregon water managers have warned that some irrigators holding junior water rights could face partial or complete shutoffs as the summer progresses and stream flows continue to fall.
Farmers dependent on Deschutes and Crooked River water had little cushion going into summer, and the combination of low supply and record-breaking heat has accelerated drawdown on available reserves.
Impact on Local Operations
For family farms already navigating post-pandemic input cost pressures, the reduced water supplies compound financial stress. Hay producers — a staple of Jefferson County's ranching economy — face lower yields per cutting. Potato growers, whose crops require consistent irrigation through the summer, must carefully manage every acre-foot.
Some operations have left portions of their acreage unplanted or switched to less water-intensive crops, while ranchers have reduced livestock numbers to manage winter feed costs tied to a reduced hay supply.
What's Ahead
Jefferson County commissioners submitted a formal drought emergency request to Gov. Kotek in March, seeking state resources and flexibility to help affected producers. The state has made drought declarations available in recent years to help farmers access emergency programs through the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
Farmers with questions about water rights or drought assistance programs can contact the Oregon Water Resources Department or the local USDA Farm Service Agency office in Madras for information on available support.