According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Nearly half of Connecticut is experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions. This is prompting local farmers and state authorities to be on alert should dry conditions continue into the height of summer. The area of drought — stretching from about the Connecticut River to Boston, including most of Rhode Island — has experienced below-average rainfall in recent months.
The severity of the drought is enough to cause some minor crop damage and voluntary water restrictions, though officials in Connecticut said those consequences have yet to be felt in the state.
Farmers in eastern Connecticut said Wednesday that the dry weather has prompted them to take some proactive measures to protect fruit crops that are coming into season, such as strawberries and blueberries. However, the conditions have yet to pose a risk to water-intensive apple and peach orchards that will not start bearing fruit until later in the summer.
Source: middletownpress.com