Harney County is considered a “food desert” or an area that has limited access to food that is plentiful, affordable and nutritious. Harney Food Systems, an initiative of the Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative is trying to mitigate that designation.

Over the last decade, reed canary grass has established a robust presence in the Harney Basin. While ag producers may disagree on whether this is good or bad, a pair of projects will examine a variety of habitats where the grass is present and what practices might be employed to manage it. A third project involves mapping the basin to see where various kinds of vegetation, including reed canary grass, are growing and how pervasively they are spreading.