Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Harney County
Harney County sits within the Malheur High Plateau (MLRA 23) region. Elevation averages about 4,811 feet.
Temperatures in Harney County range from a January mean low of 21°F to a July mean high near 85°F. Annual precipitation averages 12.6 inches. Expect about 214 frost-free days.
Harney County ran 477 farms, 1,479,684 acres of farmland, and 43,995 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, equine, and equine.
Quick Facts
| Region | High Desert / Southeast Oregon |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Horses, Sheep, Fruit & tree nuts, Hogs, Goats |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Severe Drought (D2).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor · Updated 2026-04-14
Your Local USDA Offices
Your nearest USDA Service Center houses both NRCS (conservation programs like EQIP and CSP) and FSA (loans, disaster assistance, farm numbers). Here are the offices serving Harney County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
530 Highway 20 South, Hines, OR 97738
Office info is from USDA’s published directory. Call ahead to confirm hours before visiting.
What to do when you call: Ask to schedule a meeting with a conservation planner (for EQIP/CSP) or a loan officer (for FSA programs). Mention the type of operation you run and what improvements you're considering.
Programs for Harney County Operations
Based on the agricultural profile of Harney County, these programs are most likely to be relevant:
Sage-grouse habitat conservation is the dominant EQIP priority. Harney County is core sage-grouse country. Juniper removal, rangeland seeding, and water development for livestock distribution are heavily funded. LFP is essential for drought years, which are common.
Not sure which programs fit? Run our free eligibility screener. It takes 2 minutes and generates a personalized action packet you can print and bring to your USDA office.
Local Conservation Priorities
Every county has specific conservation priorities set by the Local Working Group (LWG), a committee of local ranchers, farmers, NRCS staff, and conservation partners. EQIP applications that address local priorities score higher in the ranking process.
Harney County Conservation Priorities
Harney County is the center of Oregon's sage-grouse conservation effort and one of the most active EQIP counties in the state. Large cow-calf operations run on millions of acres of sagebrush rangeland, with irrigated hay in the valleys:
- Sage-grouse habitat (dedicated funding): NRCS has historically offered a separate EQIP funding pool specifically for sage-grouse conservation in Harney County. Qualifying practices include juniper removal, sagebrush restoration, and wildlife-friendly fencing. This is often the largest pot of EQIP money available locally.
- Juniper removal: Western juniper encroachment is the top threat to sagebrush rangeland in the high desert. Cutting and removal projects can dramatically increase forage production and improve sage-grouse habitat.
- Livestock water development: Wells, solar-powered pumps, pipelines, and tanks that distribute cattle away from riparian areas and springs. Critical for operations grazing large allotments.
- Riparian area protection: Fencing, off-stream water, and hardened crossings along Silvies River, Donner und Blitzen River, and other drainages. Riparian health is a high priority in this watershed.
- Prescribed grazing: Grazing management plans that balance cattle production with sagebrush ecosystem health across large, arid pastures.
Insurance note: Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) can help cow-calf operations manage price risk on feeder cattle. PRF insurance is particularly relevant in Harney County. Rainfall variability is high, and PRF may provide indemnity payments during the dry years that are common in the high desert.
Confirm current priorities with your local NRCS office. Annual LWG meetings are open to all producers.
Bordering Counties
If your operation extends into or you compare conditions against adjacent counties, see Humboldt County, Nevada, Washoe County, Nevada, Crook County, Oregon, Deschutes County, Oregon, Grant County, Oregon, and Lake County, Oregon. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Harney County
- Run the eligibility screener to see which programs fit your operation: Free Screener
- Find your local USDA Service Center and call to schedule a meeting: Service Center Locator
- Read the full Oregon guide for statewide program details, deadlines, and office contacts: Oregon Farm Programs Guide
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