Severe Drought Challenges Massachusetts Fruit Farms
BOSTON (CBS) - Fruit farmer Mark Parlee stayed up until 3:00 a.m. Thursday morning watering his crops. "The water right now is so critical," he said.
According to the Federal Government's US Drought Monitor, part of Massachusetts is in a severe drought.
"Our costs in Massachusetts are so high," said Parlee. "We can't afford to put all that money into a crop and then lose it at a critical time because they don't have water."
The dry weather has actually been good for some of Parlee's yield. The strawberries are completely free of mold, and the cherries that tend to burst after too much rain look perfect this year. But his 10 acres of blueberries are his biggest concern, since they're at a crucial stage. "If I didn't water these, my sales would be cut in half."
Parlee's irrigation comes from a pond on his property. It's full enough to keep his fruit watered, but it's two feet below normal, and a quick rainstorm won't change that. Without significant, sustained, soaking rain, it could become a problem.
