Drought conditions cut Texas pumpkin yields 

“We were in an extreme drought throughout the summer,” said Mark Carroll, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Floyd County. “No rainfall for the pumpkin crop, and it greatly affected our yields. We’re down anywhere from 30%-40% across acres dedicated to pumpkins.”

Carroll, who has been an AgriLife Extension agent for 20 years, said 2026 is the driest year he has seen in Floyd County, the designated Pumpkin Capital of Texas.

Acreage and irrigation

Floyd County, east of Lubbock on the Texas High Plains, has been the state’s most significant pumpkin-producing area for the past several years, Carroll said. Growers planted 1,200 acres of pumpkins in Texas this year, he said.

Acreage changes from year to year, he said, ranging from 700 to 1,600 acres per year.

All pumpkin acres are irrigated, mostly with drip systems, and they are typically planted where water supplies are adequate, Carroll said. But irrigation could not make up for the lack of rainfall because growers started the season with little to no subsoil moisture.

“Normally, you go into a growing season, you’ve got some subsoil moisture, and then you irrigate, and you can have a decent crop,” he said. “But we went into the growing season with no subsoil moisture.”

The dry weather did offer one benefit. Pumpkins are highly susceptible to fungal disease, and growers typically spray several times each season. Dry conditions mean fewer applications, which is one reason the crop does well in Floyd County’s arid climate, Carroll said.

Early harvest, steady prices

Harvest typically begins around Sept. 1 and was expected to wrap up this week, one to two weeks earlier than normal because there are fewer pumpkins to pick, Carroll said.

Seasonal demand is driven by Halloween and Thanksgiving when consumers buy pumpkins for decorating and baking. Other states, including Illinois, grow more pumpkins by volume, but much of that crop goes to processing, such as canned pumpkin. Texas, by contrast, produces decorative and culinary varieties, he said.

Texas growers produce more than 200 varieties, including jack-o’-lantern, pie and Cinderella types.

Carroll said pumpkin prices have been steady for the past three years, with no major increase or drop. Pumpkins are priced by the ton, and prices vary by variety.

Despite steady prices and demand, Carroll said high input costs continue to pinch producers.

“Anytime inputs stay high, it compresses our farmers and makes profitability difficult,” he said.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

Panhandle

Widespread rain fell across the district, with totals ranging from 2-7 inches depending on location, with many areas receiving close to 5 inches over the past two weeks. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were short to adequate. Fields were wet and creeks were running. Corn was in very poor to fair condition. Silage harvest continued in later-planted corn fields and a few forage sorghum fields. Sorghum and cotton were in very poor to fair condition. Grain sorghum colored and matured across most fields, and harvest got underway in some areas. Winter wheat planting continued where ground conditions allowed, with acres going in for both grain production and cover crop purposes. The rain arrived in time to plant wheat. The sunflower harvest got underway. Pasture, rangeland and livestock conditions were poor to good.

South Plains

Cooler temperatures and widespread, but spotty, rainfall moved across the district, with areas reporting a half inch to 8 inches. Some fields held standing water while nearby areas received none. Wet, soggy conditions kept producers out of fields for much of the week. Cotton was in poor to fair condition. Some producers just began defoliating and desiccating cotton and prepared to harvest once fields dried, though cooler weather slowed bolls from opening. Cotton harvest was complete in other areas. Corn and sorghum were both in very poor to fair condition. Peanuts were in fair to good condition, and digging was underway. The pea harvest was delayed by wet ground. Winter wheat planting continued, and early planted wheat benefited from the rain. Pasture and rangeland conditions were poor to fair, and native pastures improved with recent rainfall. Livestock conditions were very poor to good, and some producers supplemented cattle with hay. Prussic acid problems showed up in drought-stressed haygrazer, though the issues were caught before the forage was fed.

Rolling Plains

Cooler temperatures settled in and rainfall reached much of the district. Totals varied widely, from trace amounts in some areas to 1-2 inches across much of the district and 4-6 inches where storms set up. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were very short to adequate. Parts of the district reported very little rain and remained very dry. Stock tanks caught runoff where the heaviest rain fell, and some filled. Cotton was in very poor to poor condition. Most cotton was being plowed under, and what little would be harvested was expected to come off irrigated acres. Some cotton was stripped, and bolls continued to open elsewhere. The corn harvest was complete. Winter wheat planting got underway at a slow pace. Growers dusted seed in ahead of the rain, and more planting was expected to start in the coming week. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to fair, and pastures were expected to green up where rain fell. Livestock conditions were very poor to good. Supplemental hay was fed to livestock, and cattle raisers found hay supplies harder to secure than last year. Calves continued to move to market. Wildlife food plots could green up in the coming weeks.

North

The week started extremely dry and ended extremely wet as rain moved across the district. Totals ranged from 0.5-6 inches depending on location, and some areas reported only sporadic showers. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were very short to adequate. Soil moisture levels held in most areas, especially within the top 6 inches. Burn bans that had been in place for over a month were lifted in several counties. Pond levels remained low, and more rain was needed to refill them for winter. The corn harvest was complete. Soybeans and sorghum were in good condition, and both harvests were nearly finished. Cotton was in fair to good condition. Wheat ground was prepared before the rain, and planting was expected once fields dried. Cooler temperatures and moisture allowed fall vegetable planting to get underway, and pecans on irrigated trees could ripen within 30 days. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to fair. Grasses greened up quickly and resumed growth, and hay fields and forage pastures looked much better. Livestock conditions were fair to good. Insect populations were on the rise along with warm, damp weather diseases, though no outbreaks were reported. Feral hogs were active.

East

Rainfall reached much of the district late in the week, with totals ranging from about 1-4 inches. Some areas received rain each day over four days, while other parts of the district stayed hot and dry. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were very short to surplus. Ponds, lakes and rivers remained low. Burn bans were lifted in a few counties. Corn was in good condition, and cotton, soybeans and peanuts were in good to excellent condition. Hay season continued, with producers fertilizing meadows ahead of the rain and baling where they could. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to good. Pastures looked better after the rain but remained dry, and producers hoped for forage growth. Some producers were preparing to plant winter pasture and legumes. Producers were on the lookout for fall armyworms and pasture mealybug with the moisture received. Livestock conditions were poor to excellent. Supplemental feeding of cubes and hay continued where rain had not fallen, and fall calving started. Cattle markets were mixed, with prices at one auction steady to higher on higher-quality calves while other calves sold lower, and another reported softer prices with some classes steady. Many producers were purchasing bred cows. Feral hogs continued to cause damage across the district.

Far West

Cool, wet conditions prevailed across much of the district, and temperatures in the upper elevations of the Big Bend fell into the 50s. Widespread rainfall was reported, with totals from trace amounts to more than 5 inches and localized flooding in some areas. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were very short to surplus. One area received a downpour that produced runoff and set dry creek beds running, while other areas received a steady soaking rain. Other parts of the district saw mild fall weather with warm days, cool nights and limited precipitation. Cotton was in very poor to good condition. The cotton harvest was halted by the rain. Cotton conditions continued to decline in some areas despite the added moisture. Alternaria leaf spot was the main concern in cotton in the El Paso area, where it could naturally defoliate the crop early. Sorghum was in poor to fair condition, and harvest was complete. Winter wheat planting started slowly as growers moved to take advantage of the moisture. Pecan trees were expected to do well with the heavy rains, and most alfalfa growers had not cut ahead of the storms. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to good, and range and pasture grasses greened and put on significant growth. Livestock conditions were poor to good, and body conditions improved. Producers continued to ship livestock and were feeding wildlife. Hunting season was in full swing.

West Central

Rainfall was widespread across much of the district, with totals from half an inch to more than 4.5 inches, while scattered showers brought only small amounts to other areas. Cooler temperatures accompanied rain. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were very short to surplus. Dry soil absorbed the rain quickly, and stock tanks caught little runoff. Parts of the district remained extremely dry and in drought. Cotton was in very poor to fair condition. All cotton bolls had opened, and most producers were preparing to harvest or shred the crop because of poor conditions. Corn and sorghum were in very poor to fair condition. The sunflower harvest continued. Winter wheat planting was well underway, with some producers planting just ahead of the rain while others still needed moisture to plant. Pasture and rangeland conditions were poor to good, and more moisture was needed to improve rangeland. Livestock conditions were poor to good, and supplemental feeding continued. The cattle market opened steady on most calves, yearlings, packer cows and bulls, while feeder heifers sold $2-$3 higher per hundredweight. Pecan growers hoped the rain would help the crop.

Central

Much-needed rain fell across most of the district mid to late week, with totals from 1-8 inches and three days of steady rain in some areas. Localized flooding was reported in low-lying areas, but no major damage occurred. Rain was scattered, and some areas received none and remained in severe drought. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were very short to surplus. Cooler nights set in. Corn harvest was complete. Cotton was in poor to good condition, and most of the crop was harvested with average or above yields reported. Sorghum was in good condition. Soybean harvest was complete, with yields reported from 80-90 bushels per acre. Small grain planting was underway until the rain arrived, and a few producers planted oats for grazing. Plowing and terrace work continued in preparation for fall and winter rainfall. Pasture and rangeland conditions were poor to good. Pastures and hay fields remained stressed following hot, dry weather, and Bermuda grass and native forage growth was limited on dryland sites. Livestock conditions were poor to excellent. Producers continued feeding hay and supplements. Stock tank levels dropped below acceptable levels in some areas, and runoff was needed to bring them back. Pasture mealybug problems continued to be reported in some parts of the district.

Southeast

Cooler weather moved into the district, and much-needed rain fell across most areas during the end of the week. Some areas received over 5 inches within 24 hours, which created runoff, while others reported only light rain. Topsoil moisture levels were very short to surplus, and subsoil conditions were very short to adequate. Ponds in some areas filled. Corn harvest was complete, and cotton harvest wrapped up. The rice, sorghum and soybean harvests were complete. Producers worked to make a final cutting of hay before summer forages went into dormancy. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to good, and pastures continued to decline where no rain fell. Pasture mealybug damage was widespread and prevalent, with severe damage occurring in perennial pastures, and armyworms remained a problem. Livestock conditions were poor to excellent.

Southwest

A cold front brought the first general rain in months to much of the district, with totals from 0.5-4.5 inches. Temperatures cooled significantly after midweek rains. Topsoil moisture levels were very short to surplus and subsoil conditions were very short to adequate. Runoff was limited in the draws, but the moisture improved the soil profile heading into the dormant season. Drought conditions persisted in parts of the district. Corn and sorghum were in fair to excellent condition, and row crop harvest was wrapping up, with some corn still in the field because of limited storage space. Cotton was in fair to good condition. Producers rushed to pick cotton ahead of forecasted rains, and the moisture caused some stringing and color alterations. Producers who had been waiting on soil moisture planted the remainder of the oats and wheat. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to good and were expected to improve. Pasture mealybug damage was visible, though counts had decreased. Livestock conditions were very poor to good, and livestock continued to graze while receiving supplemental forages. Acorns were falling, and sheep, goats and deer were eating them. Numerous fawns were observed, buck groups were beginning to break up, and more doves were moving in.

Coastal Bend

A widespread rain event moved across the district, with totals ranging from 0.5-5 inches. More rain chances were in the forecast. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were very short to adequate. Stock ponds continued to fill, though more rain was needed. Corn and sorghum were in poor to good condition, and both harvests were complete. Rice harvest was finished. Cotton was in fair to excellent condition, with harvest active through midweek until rain arrived and humidity levels climbed. Gins were running around the clock with several weeks to go. Producers continued cleaning fields and preparing them for next year’s crop, and the added soil moisture was expected to aid fall field work once conditions dried. Winter pasture planting of oats, wheat and ryegrass was underway and expected to ramp up over the next week to 10 days. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to good, and range and pasture greened over the past few days. Livestock conditions were very poor to excellent. Livestock looked good, with calving underway, and some producers were feeding hay after months of dry weather.

South

Hot, dry, and humid conditions opened the week before the first front of the season brought widespread rain and lower temperatures. Rainfall totals varied sharply, from under 1 inch in some areas to 9 inches in others, and parts of the district received no measurable rain at all. Flood warnings were issued in some areas. Stock tank levels continued to drop where rain missed, and some producers began hauling water. Corn, cotton and sorghum were in fair to good condition, and harvest was finished in much of the district. The last few acres of cotton and grain sorghum were being shredded or plowed up, and some farmers stopped deep tilling because of dry soil and high fuel costs. The sunflower harvest was mostly complete. The peanut harvest was close to getting underway. Onion producers were expected to plant once fields dried, though the rain may delay planting for several days. Strawberry ground was being prepared, and winter small grains went ahead of the rain in some areas. Before the rain, some farmers applied herbicides to keep fields clean, and the soil was extremely dry and hard to work with tillage equipment. Pasture and rangeland conditions were poor to good. Pastures were in dire need of moisture in some areas and were expected to improve where the heavy rain fell. Livestock conditions were very poor to good, and hay and cube supplementation continued. Cattle prices declined or were steady at some local markets while feed prices increased.