Average rainfall is 11.56 inches a year, about half occurring November through February. A Golden Land High and dry on the Columbia Plateau, Sherman County's most important crop is soft white winter wheat. Moisture laden spring winds from the Pacific Ocean and a summer fallow farming system permit dryland wheat and barley production. Grain is trucked from the July and August harvest fields to cooperative elevators and barge and rail shipping facilities at Biggs for transport to Portland. Supplementary income comes from beef cattle which graze the 223,000 acres of native grass range in early summer and on wheat stubble in the fall.
Some families have small numbers of horses, hogs, llamas and sheep.
A commercial egg production facility is located on the bluff above Rufus. The population of 1,900 is equally rural and urban. Many are descendants of early homesteaders and have strong ties to the land. Businesses in Biggs, Rufus, Wasco, Moro, Grass Valley and Kent offer food services, variety goods, antiques, gifts, rock shops, hunting and fishing guide services, farm implements and supplies, fuel and mechanical repairs.