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.

CONCORD, NH — Here are the Top 10 most popular stories and posts from around New Hampshire Patch sites last week.

1. 3 Killed In Crash On Exit 2 Offramp Of Interstate 93 In Salem: Update: An elderly couple from Pelham and a woman from Salem were killed during a single-vehicle crash on the Exit 2 offramp of I-93 Sunday.
2. Man Has Life-Threatening Injuries After 5 Vehicle Crash In Manchester: Witnesses reported 2 of the teens’ vehicles appeared to be road racing at high speeds moments before the crash on Maple Street Friday night.
3. Merrimack Man Dies During Crash On Everett Turnpike In Nashua: Christopher Duval lost control of a Kia Sorento and collided with a median on the northbound side of the highway early Sunday morning.
4. Woman Crashes Truck, Rolls It Into The Merrimack River In Nashua: NHSP: Danielle Melanson of Merrimack was taken to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center after escaping her partially submerged truck Tuesday.
5. Property Tax Rates; Arrests; Best Ski Town; Where’s Santa? PM Patch NH: Update on $100M housing initiative; YDC trial goes to a jury; register for the Southern NH Tour of Lights; how to support local businesses.
6. Best NH Elementary, Middle Schools; Fatal Crash, Fire: Nearby News: Homeless camp fires extinguished; bank robbed; teacher accused of attempted sex trafficking of a girl; E-ZPass ‘smishing’ cellphone scam.
7. Concord Man Arrested On Mass. Child Enticement, Obscene Matter Charges: Richard Wayne Talbot Jr. was arrested Tuesday night at the McDonald’s Restaurant on Loudon Road, connected to charges in Methuen, Mass.
8. Snow, Slippery Roads Coming; Cops, Troopers Out In Force: PM Patch NH: Also: Meth, fentanyl dealer with gun pleads guilty, felon accused of stealing van, holiday events, guv-elect creates safety task force.
9. 73rd Annual Concord Christmas Parade Highlights: Watch: Thousands attended the festive event on the Concord Heights on Saturday morning.
10. Manchester Felon Arrested On Cocaine, Stolen Van Charges In Concord: Gregory Zieroff was arrested after police spotted a U-Haul reported stolen from Allenstown on South Main Street near the Bow town line.

Here are some other posts readers may have missed:

Sweetgreen Opens In Bedford Offering A Fresh Dining Option

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