Due to climate change, New Hampshire’s winters are getting shorter and warmer. As a consequence, the growing season for many crops is getting longer. But for the state’s blueberry farmers, cold winters are quite important. Some fruit trees and bushes need a certain amount of cold each year to get ready to grow well in the spring. Blueberries need up to 1000 hours below about 45 degrees, and warm spells can interfere with that.
Milder winters will mean a less productive spring for his blueberries. Also, climate change can affect production in other ways, as it can also mean drought for some areas. Short-term droughts are likely to increase in New Hampshire, according to the state’s most recent climate assessment, as the state as a whole trends hotter and wetter.
Source: ctpublic.org