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It's hot. High temperatures and a lack of rain have brought about the country's widest-ranging drought since the 1950s. The entire state of Missouri has been declared a federal disaster area, along with 82 counties in Kansas. Crops are struggling to survive, and so are cattle farmers who can't feed their livestock.

Pumped Up Pumpkin Prices

Many shoppers will pay higher prices for pumpkins this fall as this summer’s drought continues to take its toll on local growers.

Pumpkins are often considered a drought resilient crop, but the combination of extreme heat and low rainfall have taken their toll on pumpkins.  Local growers may have produced fewer and smaller pumpkins.

David Trinklein is the associate professor of Plant Sciences at the University of Missouri. He says the reason behind higher pumpkin prices is due in part to them having to be trucked in from other states such as Michigan.

“So, the cost is going to be greater because they have to be transported by truck all the way from Michigan, even though the crop is ample in Michigan.”

Trinklein says he does not expect the taste of the pumpkins to be affected.

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