Yarnick's Farm's Pumpkin Season Plagued by Weather, Early Harvest
Yarnick's Farm, a usual supplier of pumpkins to Pittsburgh area supermarkets and vendors, faced a challenging season this year. Due to adverse weather conditions, the farm could not meet its usual supply commitments.
Dr. Emily Turner, a local meteorologist, reported that excessive rain followed by drought plagued the growing season. This led to Yarnick's Farm's worst pumpkin season ever. Typically, the farm grows around 500 bins of pumpkins across 20 acres. However, this year, it could only manage around 60 bins on similar acreage.
Consequently, the farm's harvest concluded earlier than usual. For the first time, there were no hay rides to the pumpkin patch for kids due to insufficient pumpkins. Adding to the farm's woes, deer also feasted on the crop. The combination of these factors resulted in the farm losing money on pumpkins this year.
In response to these challenges, Yarnick's Farm plans to reduce its pumpkin growth next year. The decision is driven by rising farming prices and increasingly unpredictable weather. The farm aims to adjust its operations to better navigate future uncertainties.
