00:00Halloween pumpkins are coming up short in parts of Kansas after an extreme summer.
00:04The season actually started with too much water.
00:07A 7-inch June rain killed about 30% of one Wichita-area farm's pumpkins.
00:12South-central Kansas had its 5th wettest June on record.
00:15Then the rain stopped.
00:17Wichita got just 0.75 of an inch in July and August, against a normal 8.28 inches.
00:24It was the city's second driest July and August on record.
00:28Behind 1936, every August day hit at least 90 degrees, a first for Wichita.
00:33One farmer drained both irrigation ponds and chose to save his apple trees instead.
00:38Another farm watered almost nonstop, but still lacked large carving pumpkins.
00:43Water stress during flowering can make blossoms and young fruit drop.
00:47Growers across the southern plains face more swings between downpours and drought.
00:52This year, the perfect jack-o'-lantern was harder to find.
00:55Disclosure. This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
