Drought Cuts Pumpkin Yields Across Texas, Michigan

Drought sharply reduced pumpkin harvests in Texas and Michigan this year. In Floyd County, Texas, the state’s leading pumpkin-growing area, growers reported yields down 30% to 40% after a rainless summer and little to no subsoil moisture; irrigation could not make up the difference. The dry conditions did reduce fungal disease pressure and the need for spraying, while the smaller crop was expected to finish harvest one to two weeks early. A Michigan farm also reported a roughly 30% decline, saying a prolonged drought stunted pumpkin growth despite irrigation. Even with the smaller harvests, fall visitors continued to flock to pumpkin farms.