Sunnycrest Farm Battles Drought: How Dry Weather Is Changing Everyday Life on the Farm

When the sun hangs high over the hills of New Hampshire, the whole world seems to take a deep, lazy breath. For the Roberts family at Sunnycrest Farm, that breath feels a lot like a sigh of worry. Since early spring, the rain‑clouds have been on an extended vacation, and the once‑lush pastures are now a patchwork of brown, cracked earth.

"We’ve never seen anything quite like this," says Tom Roberts, the farm’s patriarch, wiping a line of dust off his worn‑in boots. "Normally the corn would be sprouting by now, the calves would be busy grazing, and we’d be planning for the summer market. Instead, we’re checking the soil every morning like it’s a weather‑app."

The drought isn’t just a pretty‑picture problem; it’s hitting the farm’s bottom line. Corn, which supplies most of the feed for the herd, has produced only about 60 % of its expected yield. That shortfall forces the Roberts to buy supplemental feed—something they tried to avoid for years.

To make matters more complicated, the lack of rain has raised the temperature just enough to make the cows pant more often. "You can tell when they’re uncomfortable," notes Emily Roberts, who manages the dairy operation. "They’re standing still more, drinking water like it’s a race, and even the milk production has dipped a bit. It’s a domino effect."

But it isn’t all doom and gloom. The family has been creative. They rigged a series of temporary irrigation lines using old PVC pipes and a modest pump borrowed from a neighbor. "It’s not perfect, and the water pressure is…well, let’s just say it’s a bit of a wiggle," Tom chuckles, adding a dash of humor to an otherwise stressful situation.

Local groups have also stepped in. The town’s agricultural extension office sent a specialist who helped the farm calculate the exact water needs for each field, preventing waste. Meanwhile, the community garden at the nearby high school donated a few hundred gallons of rain‑water collected earlier in the year.

Despite the hurdles, the Roberts are staying optimistic. They’ve started planting a drought‑resistant sorghum variety as a backup feed source, and they’re experimenting with mulching techniques that lock moisture into the soil. "It’s a learning curve," Emily admits, "but every challenge teaches us something new about resilience."

As the season progresses, the farm watches the sky with a mixture of hope and habit. If the clouds finally decide to roll in, the Roberts will be ready—perhaps a little wiser, a little dirtier, but certainly still standing strong on the land they love.