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Drought of 2012 has brought a very good Christmas tree crop

By GARY LIBERATORE

Story Created: Dec 10, 2012 at 2:09 PM EDT

Story Updated: Dec 10, 2012 at 2:09 PM EDT

SAUQUOIT, N.Y. (WKTV) - Omar Massoud from Massoud's Tree Farm in Sauquoit says the lower than normal rainfall and higher than normal temperatures this year have made it a very good year for Christmas trees.

The dry conditions have led to what he says is the best crop of trees in years. He says the color and the texture of the trees is wonderful and that the trees have deep roots and are able to pull moisture up during a drought.

However, he adds that there is one negative effect of this year's conditions. The newly planted seedlings planted earlier this year were basically lost.

"The newly planted seedlings, lost them. About 100 percent gone," Massoud said. "But the established trees with the deeper roots, no problem. As a matter of fact, because of the low amount of rainfall this summer, the trees did leech out the nutrients out of the soil, so the trees were better in color this year."

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