NASHUA, NH — If you plan to put up a live Christmas tree this year, it’s a good idea to scope out what will be available from Nashua area tree growers.

There are more than 16,000 Christmas tree farms in the United States, stretching over 292,050 acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Larger tree farms control about 75 percent of the supply, but if you’re interested in supporting a local business this holiday season, here are some places to chop or pick out a tree within driving distance of Nashua:

Live Tree or Die Farm in Amherst

Wincrest Farm in Weare

Recent data from the American Christmas Tree Association’s 2024 Consumer Report shows 99 percent of survey respondents intend to display at least one Christmas tree in their homes this year, and among them, 22 percent will opt for a live tree.

According to PickYourOwnChristmasTree, real trees will cost about $13 a foot, depending on the type of tree. At that cost, a typical 7-foot tree would cost about $90.

Years of extreme weather — drought conditions in some parts of the country and excess moisture in others — have affected Christmas tree farms.

This year, attention is focused on the Northeast, where tree farmers are struggling under severe drought conditions that are killing off young trees and could cause future shortages.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about a fourth of the region was in severe to extreme drought, which hits young trees especially hard. It typically takes a tree seven or eight years to grow to the desirable height for decorating.

“Christmas tree farms in the Northeast have, unfortunately, been hit with drought conditions that will impact the crop for several years to come,” American Christmas Tree Association executive director Jami Warner told CNN.

“While consumers will be able to find their Christmas trees this season, some growers in the Northeast will not be able to harvest as many trees as they have in past non-drought years,” Warner said.

CONCORD, NH — A man from Bow faces charges after being accused of wrong-way drunken driving on two Interstates on Sunday morning, according to New Hampshire State Police.

Just before 12:45 a.m., state police dispatch began receiving reports of a wrong-way driver traveling north in the southbound lanes of Interstate 293 near Mile Marker 7.4 in Manchester. More reports, Tyler Dumont, the public information officer for state police, said, came in as the driver continued north onto I-93 into Hooksett.

“A single-vehicle crash with non-life-threatening injuries south of the Hooksett tolls was also reported,” he said, “after another driver attempted to avoid a head-on collision with the wrong-way driver and went off the road.”

The driver continued into Bow and Concord and was eventually stopped by a Troop D trooper in Concord on Interstate 93.

The driver, Brian Kunst, 49, of Bow, was arrested after a roadside investigation on reckless conduct with a deadly weapon and driving while intoxicated. He was processed and held at the county jail. Kunst is scheduled to appear in Concord District Court on Monday.

A man was allegedly driving impaired when he collided with a rock wall, rolled over and struck a telephone pole Friday in Hudson, New Hampshire.

Hudson police say they responded to a report around 6 p.m. for a motor vehicle that was on its side and had come to rest against a telephone pole at the intersection of Kimball Hill Road and Speare Road.

The driver, identified as 47-year-old Randall Maier, of Hudson, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after police noticed signs of impairment.

According to police, Maier’s Jeep was traveling on Speare Road when it collided with several large boulders before losing control as it traveled on to Kimball Hill​ Road and rolling over.

​Maier declined medical attention on scene. He was released on personal recognizance and ordered to appear at the 9th Circuit Court on​ Dec. 12. It wasn’t immediately clear if he had obtained an attorney.