Union County opens applications for wolf depredation compensation and prevention funding

“Producers must submit an application by Nov. 1 to be considered for funding,” the county release told Union County livestock operators, and completed applications can be dropped off or mailed to the Union County Administrative Office at 1106 K Avenue in La Grande or emailed to Annette Powers at apowers@union-county.org. La Grande Observer and Elkhorn Media reported the Nov. 1 deadline in 2025 and emphasized that producers submitting via email should ensure delivery confirmation; the county phone for questions is 541-963-1001.

Union County is offering two types of assistance under the Oregon Department of Agriculture framework: reimbursement for verified depredation losses and funding to reimburse nonlethal prevention measures. The Union County Board of Commissioners approved applying to ODA’s Wolf Depredation Compensation & Financial Assistance Grant Program for $212,510, “including $62,510 in predation funds to cover losses of seven ewes, one steer, and four cow calves, as well as $150,000 in prevention funding to reimburse producers for non-lethal deterrent measures like range riders, herders, and electric fences,” NationalToday reported on Feb. 24, 2026. The county indicated predation funds would address losses reported by two local producers, and valuation under the county application follows the new rule of establishing fair market value then multiplying by five.

The county program operates under ODA rules that place decision-making at the county level. “The structure of ODA’s WDCFA Grant Program is specifically designed to place a large portion of decision-making, administration, and control at the county level with the goal of enhancing public involvement and participation,” ODA guidance states. ODA requires that depredation reimbursements be for incidents with an ODFW investigative finding of “confirmed” or “probable” from the previous year; the depredation component generally operates a year in arrears. ODA also requires at least 30 percent of grant funds be spent on prevention, mandates a 10 percent county contribution to administration, and requires counties to expend awarded funds by January 31 of the following year or return unspent money.

Historically eligible prevention measures named in county notices and reporting include fencing and electric fences, night pens, range riders, paid herders, livestock guard dogs, air patrols, fox lights, and fladry. Union County’s advisory committee, formed in 2012 under ODA direction, reviews all producer applications; La Grande Observer reported that “all applications will be reviewed by the Union County Wolf Depredation Compensation Advisory Committee before recommendation to the Union County Board of Commissioners.” The advisory committee must include a county commissioner, livestock owners or managers, supporters of wolf conservation, and business representatives under ODA rules.

Application materials are available through the county pages and a short link cited in reporting; La Grande Observer listed bit.ly/42IDa6f and Elkhorn Media referenced a downloadable form named “Wolf-Depredation-Application-Non-Lethal-Preventative-Techniques-Category-3Download.” The county advises producers to deliver completed forms to 1106 K Avenue, La Grande, OR 97850, or email apowers@union-county.org and to request delivery confirmation when emailing.

Reporting spans multiple years and cycles: Union County web pages from 2020, Oct. 2025 press releases, and the county’s Feb. 24, 2026 application to ODA for $212,510 appear in the public record. Because the Nov. 1 deadline appears tied to the 2025 cycle in several sources while the county submitted a 2026 application to ODA, producers should confirm the current application cycle, submission receipt rules, and documentation requirements with Annette Powers at apowers@union-county.org or by calling 541-963-1001. If ODA awards funds to the county, the county will allocate money to producers on an application basis after the advisory committee and the Union County Board of Commissioners (Paul Anderes, Matt Scarfo, Jake Seavert) complete their review.