WASHINGTON – A severe drought in the Northeast has sparked concerns about a potential Christmas tree shortage in the coming holiday periods, according to a FOX Business Report.

According to the report, some farmers say up to 25 percent of young trees have been lost to the unusually dry conditions, with significant losses seen in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

Chris Moran, who operates Vandervalk Farm in Mendon, Massachusetts, told FOX Business that the drought killed about 500 of the 2,700 seedlings planted last spring. Similar losses were reported by farmers in Pennsylvania.

FILE – Christmas trees in a field in Richmond Township, PA. (Photo by Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)

Fortunately, older trees planted 10 to 15 years ago were not affected, so customers will not see any shortages or price increases this Christmas. The real impact will be felt in about five to six years, when this year’s lost seedlings would have matured into profitable trees, according to the report.

“In 10 years, I’ll have 20-25 percent less of my product to sell,” Moran told FOX Business. His family farm grows about 10,000 trees on 10 acres of land.

On Thursday, the Maryland Department of the Environment issued drought watches and warnings throughout the state. In Virginia, 38 counties are under a drought watch advisory.

There is some hope of relief in extended forecast as a storm system moving into the area could bring the first significant rain in months.

This chart shows forecast rain totals in the Northeast this week. (FOX Weather)