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'There's Permanent Damage': Dracut's Shaw Farm Struggles With Mass. Drought

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Warren Shaw at Shaw Farm in Dracut, Massachusetts. (Joe Difazio for WBUR)
Warren Shaw at Shaw Farm in Dracut, Massachusetts. (Joe Difazio for WBUR)

Massachusetts' ongoing "extreme drought" means dying crops and dry pastures for farmers in the state.

"It's clear to me that there's permanent damage from this drought," says Shaw Farm's Warren Shaw.

The Dracut farmer says this summer's drought could be catastrophic for many local farmers. Luckily, Shaw says his operation is in better condition than most. A dairy farmer, Shaw runs a retail shop where he sells his farm's milk, ice cream, beef and other products which help to keep him afloat financially.

However, Shaw says he's already buying food from outside sources for his herd — and he wonders how some dairy farmers are supposed to feed their cows this winter when there is very little food growing to store for the future.

WBUR's Morning Edition spoke with Shaw earlier this week to discuss farming during this brutally dry season.

Dairy farmer Warren Shaw says this summer's "extreme drought" has left his cattle with little to eat. (Joe Difazio for WBUR)
Dairy farmer Warren Shaw says this summer's "extreme drought" has left his cattle with little to eat. (Joe Difazio for WBUR)
Warren Shaw says Shaw Farm hasn't had a good crop since May. (Joe Difazio for WBUR)
Warren Shaw says Shaw Farm hasn't had a good crop since May. (Joe Difazio for WBUR)
Shaw Farm has its own milk bottling and processing room. (Joe Difazio for WBUR)
Shaw Farm has its own milk bottling and processing room. (Joe Difazio for WBUR)
Products grown and processed at Shaw Farm are sold in the farm's own retail shop. Warren Shaw says the shop has helped to keep the farm afloat amid this summer's drought. (Joe Difazio for WBUR)
Products grown and processed at Shaw Farm are sold in the farm's own retail shop. Warren Shaw says the shop has helped to keep the farm afloat amid this summer's drought. (Joe Difazio for WBUR)
Milk in Shaw Farm's retail shop. (Joe Difazio for WBUR)
Milk in Shaw Farm's retail shop. (Joe Difazio for WBUR)

This segment aired on August 19, 2016.

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Bob Oakes was a senior correspondent in the WBUR newsroom, a role he took on in 2021 after nearly three decades hosting WBUR's Morning Edition.

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