DANVERS, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Drought conditions in Massachusetts this summer have been cause for concern when it comes to municipal water levels, agriculture, and wildlife across the Commonwealth, but farmers growing a signature fall crop are seeing an orange lining.
The dry conditions are ideal for growing pumpkins, which are about to be harvested in time for the Halloween season next month.
Connors Farm in Danvers owner Bob Connors told WBZ NewsRadio that while the lack of rain is not ideal for other crops, it's been helpful with growing the potential jack-o-lanterns.
"Last year we had a lot of rain, so we were constantly spraying fungicide," Connors said.
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Connors recommends picking pumpkins that are "true to color" — dark orange with a nice green stem.
A large portion of the state, including the Northeast Region where Danvers is located, remains at Level-3 Critical Drought status as declared by the Drought Management Task Force and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The Central, Cape Cod, and Connecticut River Valley regions are also at Level-3.
The Southeast Region recently improved its status to Level-2 Significant Drought, joining the Western and Islands regions.
WBZ's Karyn Regal (@KarynRegal) reports.
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