By KRWG News
Portales,. New Mexico – PORTALES, N.M. (KRWG) Eastern New Mexico farmers say they expect to see fewer and smaller pumpkins for Halloween,
The Portales News-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/qTTP4x) that farmers say extreme drought and heat are to blame for drops of 20 to 30 percent lower pumpkin supply.
Kenneth Davis, owner of Davis Farms Pumpkin Patch north of Clovis, said there was little farmers could do about constant 100-degree days.
Davis said blistering temperatures prevent bees from being as active. This causes pumpkin blossoms to fall off of the vine without being pollinated, and, as a result, no fruit was produced.
Scott Meeks, partner of Pumpkin Patch, said his crop will see 12-to-14 pound pumpkins this year. He said they are usually 16-to-18 pounds.
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Information from: Portales News-Tribune, http://www.pntonline.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. KRWG