Agriculture

The region's latest Movers & Shakers.

Massachusetts officials plan to use their share of a $500,000 federal grant to put more drivers behind the wheels of electric vehicles over the next two years in a bid to spur sales in that market.

Eleven of the state's 14 counties have been deemed "primary natural disaster areas" by the United States Department of Agriculture due to substantial crop losses that began with a February deep freeze and continued though a summer marked by severe drought.

Central Massachusetts communities are ratcheting up water use restrictions in the face of a deepening drought.

Up to $1 million in micro-loans will now be available to Massachusetts farmers struggling under the impacts of a widespread and historic drought.

In the midst of a summer devoid of significant rainfall, all of Massachusetts is now at least "abnormally dry" and the portion feeling the effects of a "severe drought" or worse has expanded to cover almost 75 percent of the state.

Standing in front of a patch of strawberry plants about 10 inches shorter than they would be during a wetter summer, Gov. Charlie Baker and other state officials on Thursday urged Massachusetts residents to conserve water and support their local farmers.

Charlie Baker has thrown his support behind the Nashoba Valley Winery to allow it to continue to pour its homemade wines, beers and spirits at both the Bolton winery and restaurant.

Massachusetts shoppers would be able to buy craft beers and spirits at farmers markets -- but not take those bottles or any other purchases home in a plastic bag -- under a bill approved Thursday by the Senate.

The sales of milk by Massachusetts dairy farmers fell by 44 percent in 2015, according to the National Agriculture Statistics Service.