Record June Rain in Midwest Reduces Yield of Pumpkin Crop

By Heather Janssen, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

October 18,2015; 9:02PM,EDT

 

 

Pumpkin pies may be in jeopardy this season due to heavy rainfall in parts of the Midwest over the summer.
Many farmers are experiencing a smaller-than-normal pumpkin yield, especially of processing pumpkins, the variety used for making pumpkin pie and other seasonal foods.
Large canned pumpkin manufacturer Libby told the Associated Press that yields could be off as much as a third this year in Illinois, the leading state in pumpkin production.
Jack-o-lantern pumpkin yields were not as affected by the wet conditions this summer compared to processing pumpkins. (Flickr Photo/liz west)
Illinois had record rainfall during the month of June with most of the state receiving between 8 and 10 inches of rain or two to three times above the normal for the month of June.
"The jet stream got stuck in a pattern over Illinois, bringing persistent storms with frequent and heavy rainfall throughout June," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dale Mohler said.
Mohler added that the region had little time to dry out because of the frequent rounds of wet weather.
The wet pattern led to a delay in planting for some, while already planted pumpkins were lost due to flooding.
"Some places had to re-plant three or four times to get established," University of Illinois Professor of Plant Pathology Mohammad Babadoost said.
In addition to the wet conditions, diseases have also contributed to low yields and quality this year.
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While Badadoost does not think there will be a shortage or higher prices this year, he suggests buying canned pumpkins as soon as it they come to the store.
How long the canned pumpkins will be available will depend on the market demand.
"Consumers are driven to make purchases (or in some cases deterred) because of a number of reasons including weather. However, not every person shares the same weather experience and so their reaction to weather and their subsequent consumer behavior varies geographically," AccuWeather Business Intelligence Analyst Tim Loftus said.
Processing pumpkins in Illinois are typically planted in late April or early May with harvesting beginning in mid-August.