Drought hitting Christmas tree farmers

OXFORD, Ohio - This summer's drought is cutting into the potential profits of Christmas tree farmers, and selection for consumers.

"This year prior to the drought was going to be our best year, and now this year is probably going to be our worst," said Roger Koch, owner of Koch Christmas Tree Farm.

Koch has been farming Christmas trees for the past 12 years. He expects to lose 50 percent of his gross income due to a lack of rain.

Koch says he's lost 40 percent of his newly planted trees and older trees are in danger of dying if his Oxford farm doesn't get rain soon.

"We have not had a decent rain right here where I am since the last part of May," said Koch.

Koch says he'll likely bring in trees from North Carolina to supplement the trees he grows on his farm. But, Koch says that will hurt his bottom line, and is not what his customers are hoping for.