drought

Maine's small Christmas Tree growers say their sales are up this season, despite an exceptionally wet spring, a severe drought, and tariffs that have made it a tough year for many farmers.

As the ground freezes, it becomes harder for underground aquafers to refill with rain or snow runoff.

Maine farmers can now apply for emergency loans from The United States Department of Agriculture. Maine has been gripped by an increasingly severe drought since August. And despite some late fall rain, the lack of water during the growing season has affected farmers' livelihoods.

Hundreds of homeowners report dried up wells as drought worsens.

Jason Lilley, a maple industry educator with the UMaine Cooperative Extension, says the fact that maple trees are dropping their leaves a week early indicates they are stressed, and stress is bad for sugar production.

Poland Spring said since the beginning of September, it "significantly" reduced water withdrawals from Clear Spring in Hollis and has cut back water usage at the Evergreen Spring in Fryeburg.

Some government websites are not being updated to include information about drought relief programs.

The National Weather Service says Maine needs far above normal autumn rainfall to overcome severe dry conditions gripping the state.

When surface water becomes scarce, it becomes harder and harder for it to move underground and replenish groundwater aquafers and wells.

Parts of western and central Maine, which include Rumford, Lewiston and Augusta, have been placed in extreme drought status.