Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) will soon help protect approximately 20,000 acres of farmland and rangeland in Harney County, thanks to $18.4 million in federal funding awarded through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for the High Desert Partnership.
With $6 million dedicated specifically to OAT’s work, the grant will advance landscape-scale conservation efforts by leveraging OAT’s deep-rooted partnerships with local landowners and focusing on long-term agricultural viability and climate resilience. This grant will help support 5-8 conservation easements, compensating farmers and ranchers for limiting future development on their lands and preserving them for sustainable agricultural use.
“This collaborative grant will enable Oregon Agricultural Trust to engage in landscape-scale, permanent protection of valuable and productive agricultural land in Harney County,” said Nellie McAdams, executive director at Oregon Agricultural Trust. “The multifaceted approach will help farmers and ranchers meet the challenges of climate change, while also conserving water, restoring wetlands, and improving forest resilience. We are excited to work with our partners on this grant and see this unified approach as something that will continue long into the future.”
This RCPP grant marks the second major federal award secured by OAT, reinforcing the momentum for large-scale conservation in Oregon. With this and future funding opportunities, OAT and other land trusts are poised to strengthen collaborative efforts among agricultural and conservation partners statewide. Looking ahead, they aim to harness additional resources to expand the reach of conservation projects that benefit both working lands and critical habitats across Oregon.
A valued member of the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts (COLT), OAT plays an essential role in this work. Building on years of trusted partnerships with Harney County landowners, OAT unites conservation goals with agricultural viability. These established relationships enable OAT to implement effective, locally-supported conservation easements that align with the needs of both landowners and ecosystems.
COLT sees this funding as a critical advancement in landscape-scale conservation, securing agricultural productivity while safeguarding Oregon’s natural resources for future generations.
“This project is exemplary in showing how communities can come together to find common ground, address complex issues, and improve livelihoods and management of our shared resources,” said Joe Buttafuoco, executive director at COLT. “COLT is thrilled to see this partnership-driven effort receive significant funding.”
This funding is part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) recent $1.5 billion investment in 92 conservation projects nationwide through the RCPP, which aims to address critical natural resource challenges on agricultural lands. It also aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader Investing in America Agenda, supported by the Farm Bill and Inflation Reduction Act.
“We must continue to find creative ways to conserve and protect Oregon’s diverse lands, wildlife, and water resources which are critical to our ecosystems and economy,” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said.
Merkley, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for the USDA added that “This multi-million-dollar federal investment for the High Desert Partnership in Harney County is a win in the fight against climate chaos, strengthening our lands and rural communities now and in the future.”
Building Climate Resilience in Harney County
Harney County’s landscape is vital for agriculture, ranching, wildlife, and local communities. However, it faces increasing threats from climate change, drought, and wildfires. This grant supports a collaborative strategy to address these challenges by enhancing water conservation, restoring wetlands, bolstering sagebrush and forest ecosystems, and establishing conservation easements that safeguard agricultural lands.
Through the “Expanding Resilient Working Lands in Harney County” project, partners will:
- Work directly with landowners to establish conservation easements that secure the land for sustainable use, encouraging stewardship practices that preserve the land’s ecological value.
- Implement climate-smart practices on a landscape scale to build resilience.
- Enhance wetlands and flood-irrigated grass hay meadows, benefiting both local wildlife and livestock.
- Restore sagebrush and forest habitats to support native species like sage-grouse, redband trout, pronghorn, and mule deer.
This collaborative initiative unites private landowners, government agencies, and conservation organizations in a shared approach to natural resource management. Key partners include the Oregon Agricultural Trust, Harney Soil & Water Conservation District, Harney County Watershed Council, Harney Cooperative Weed Management Area, Ducks Unlimited, WildLandscapes International, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, and many others from the High Desert Partnership’s network.
Together, they will implement practices to promote healthy sagebrush, forest, and wetland ecosystems while supporting the agricultural producers who are vital to the region’s sustainability.
“I was excited to learn about the $18.4 million award to the High Desert Partnership and partners like the Oregon Agricultural Trust,” Oregon Rep. Mark Owens, R-Crane said. “These funds are critical for securing long-term working land easements that will preserve our customs and culture while providing essential ecological benefits for our changing environment.”
Funding from the Farm Bill and Inflation Reduction Act
This investment is supported by funds from the Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America Agenda. The Inflation Reduction Act, a landmark investment in climate action and conservation, enables the NRCS to increase funding for the RCPP. In total, the Act allocates $19.5 billion to support USDA conservation programs, including $4.95 billion for RCPP.
“I am pleased to support this federal investment in working lands in Eastern Oregon as producers grapple with drought, wildfire and other local impacts of the climate crisis,” U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said. “This is a prime example of how robust investment in conservation programs in the Farm Bill is critically important to rural Oregon.”
