Published • loading... • Updated
Farmer warns pumpkin patches may not survive scorching summers
Farmers say losses have reached 50% in some fields, leaving smaller pumpkins, sparse displays and higher costs for Halloween attractions.
- Britain's pumpkin patches face a significantly reduced harvest this year after a scorching summer ruined growing conditions, leaving families visiting farms ahead of Halloween with fewer pumpkins than usual.
- The UK saw only 77% of average summer rainfall, with parts of southern England enduring 62 consecutive days without rain; heatwaves also impacted wheat yields, down 40% this year.
- Eleanor Gilbert, 24, who runs the Berkshire Farm Girl Pumpkin Patch, reported her pumpkin crop is down 50%, having spent $8,000 on seeds and harvesting only one pumpkin from 1,000 planted.
- Farmers face increased costs as irrigation systems for crops cost upwards of $20,000, while wheat farming now costs $80 an acre rather than generating profit.
- Future summers threaten the viability of pumpkin farming as climate trends intensify; "I am looking at whether this could be my last ever pumpkin harvest," Gilbert said, questioning whether she can continue.
Insights by Ground AI
33 Articles
33 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources33
Leaning Left5Leaning Right8Center18Last UpdatedBias Distribution58% Center
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources are Center
58% Center
L 16%
C 58%
R 26%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
