Jefferson County, Oregon
Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
Jefferson County is in central Oregon, centered on Madras. The Deschutes and Crooked Rivers provide irrigation water for productive farmland on the high desert plateau. The Warm Springs Reservation covers the western portion.
Irrigated agriculture thrives where water is available — hay, mint, carrot seed, garlic, and other seed crops. Cattle ranching on dryland range fills in the rest. Jefferson County punches above its weight in agricultural value.
Quick Facts
| Region | Central Oregon |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Vegetables, Wheat, Corn, Horses, Sheep |
| Farms & Ranches | ~348 (2022 USDA Census) |
| Agricultural Land | ~540,000 acres |
| Average Farm Size | ~1,600 acres |
Find 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) under one roof. Most Oregon counties are served by a Service Center that may cover multiple counties.
Find your Service Center:
Search for "Jefferson County" to find your local NRCS and FSA offices, including address, phone number, and hours.
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. They'll tell you what to bring to the meeting.
Programs for Jefferson County Operations
Based on the agricultural profile of Jefferson County, these programs are most likely to be relevant:
Irrigation efficiency is the top EQIP priority — converting to modern systems saves water in this water-scarce region. Cover cropping and soil health on irrigated cropland are strong CSP fits.
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.
We don't have Jefferson County's specific LWG priorities yet.
Ask your local NRCS office: "What are the priority resource concerns in Jefferson County?" This directly affects how your EQIP application is scored. You can also attend the annual LWG meeting — they're open to all producers.
Your Next Steps in Jefferson 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
This guide is part of Farmer's Navigator. Built by Oregon ranchers. Free for everyone.