October is a busy month for the top pumpkin-producing state, and although consumers likely won’t see the effects, Mother Nature challenged some Illinois fields this season.

Jack Lanxon is part of the eighth generation of Eckert’s Orchard in Belleville, where they grow up to 60 acres of pumpkins that are mostly U-pick or sold at on-farm stores.

“We had a pretty wet spring and early summer, which really made for perfect planting conditions,” he told FarmWeek. “But I think we only have 60% to 75% of a full crop due to poor pollination weather, including extreme heat and drought. It is hard on the plants and hard on pollinators to help pollinate the plants.”

Harvest began on time in mid-September, and moisture early in the season helped the earlier-planted pumpkins size up, with good weight

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