Wallowa County, Oregon: USDA programs and conservation funding

480
Farms & Ranches
505K
Acres in Agriculture
1,051
Avg Farm Size (acres)
$20.2M
Cattle Sales
Top commodities: Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Grain, Wheat, Equine
Source: 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture

Wallowa County, Oregon has 480 farms working 504,713 agricultural acres (average 1,051 acres per farm). Cattle sales total $20.2 million annually. Leading commodities by sales: Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Grain. Vegetation typically peaks in May, defining the primary growing season.

← Oregon Farm Programs Guide

Farm Programs & Local Resources

Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error

About Wallowa County

Wallowa County lies in the Blue and Seven Devils Mountains (MLRA 43C) region. Elevation averages about 4,534 feet.

Wallowa County averages 26.8 inches of precipitation annually (1991–2020 NOAA normals). The frost-free growing season runs about 214 days. Annual mean temperature is 43.9°F.

Wallowa County's agricultural base centers on cattle, wheat, and equine. The 2022 Ag Census recorded 480 farms working 504,713 acres. Cattle inventory stands at 17,763 head.


Quick Facts

RegionNortheast Oregon / Wallowa Mountains
Top CommoditiesCattle & calves, Wheat, Horses, Barley, Sheep, Poultry

Current Conditions

Drought status: Severe Drought (D2). LFP-eligible for 43+ weeks — check FSA for livestock forage assistance.

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 Wallowa County.

USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)

401 NE 1st St Ste E, Enterprise, OR 97828

(541) 426-4521

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 Wallowa County Operations

Based on the agricultural profile of Wallowa County, these programs are most likely to be relevant:

Rangeland health, noxious weed management, water development for livestock distribution, and wildlife-friendly fencing are top priorities. The Wallowa Mountains make this prime elk and wolf country, wildlife-livestock coexistence practices are relevant.

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

Each county's NRCS Local Working Group sets the conservation practices that score highest for EQIP funding. Knowing your county's priorities before you apply can significantly improve your ranking.

How to find your county's priorities:

  • Call your local NRCS office and ask: "What practices is the Local Working Group prioritizing this year?"
  • Ask which EQIP ranking pool your operation fits (there may be separate pools for livestock, cropland, forestry, etc.)
  • Check your state NRCS website for published ranking criteria

Counties Bordering Wallowa County

Wallowa County shares borders with Adams County, Idaho, Idaho County, Idaho, Nez Perce County, Idaho, Baker County, Oregon, Umatilla County, Oregon, and Union County, Oregon. Conservation priorities, EQIP ranking pools, and drought conditions often overlap across county lines — it's worth checking neighboring county pages if your operation spans multiple jurisdictions.

Your Next Steps in Wallowa County

  1. Run the eligibility screener to see which programs fit your operation: Free Screener
  2. Find your local USDA Service Center and call to schedule a meeting: Service Center Locator
  3. Read the full Oregon guide for statewide program details, deadlines, and office contacts: Oregon Farm Programs Guide

Built by ranchers who've been through it. Every guide on this site is free.

Related program guides

EQIP Prescribed GrazingEQIP Water DevelopmentEQIP Fencing

Vegetation Baseline

0.46
Typical NDVI (Apr)
0.65
Peak season (May)
JanJulDec
5-year average NDVI from MODIS MOD13Q1 (2021–2025 avg)

Quick Tools for Wallowa County

Check drought statusCurrent USDM conditions and historical drought data.PRF rainfall analysis78 years of grid-level rainfall data for hay and grazing insurance.Estimate EQIP costsSee what NRCS may cover and your estimated out-of-pocket share.Disaster triageLost livestock or pasture? Find your disaster programs and deadlines.See all deadlinesEvery USDA program deadline in one place.