This year's pumpkin crop has been a harsh reminder of the water challenges facing farmers across the Southwest and West due to human-caused climate change exacerbating drought and heat extremes. Farmers in states like Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado have been hit hard, with some losing 20% or more of their predicted yields. Among them is Alan Mazzotti, a pumpkin grower in Hudson, Colorado, who had to reduce his pumpkin crop by half due to a decrease in water delivery. Heavy rains in May and June brought some relief, but it was too late for many farmers to do additional planting.

The hot and dry weather this summer, which broke world records and brought temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), proved to be too much for pumpkins. Mark Carroll, a Texas A&M extension agent, referred to this year as one of the worst in several years. Pumpkins not only need irrigation to make up for the lack of rainfall, but they also need cooler weather for proper harvesting. The scorching heat caused some pumpkins to start decomposing before even reaching stores.

In addition to the water challenges, farmers are facing rising labor costs and inflation, which are narrowing their profit margins. Pumpkins require manual labor for harvesting, making it a time and labor-intensive process. Mazzotti hires guest workers through the H-2A program, but Colorado recently implemented a law requiring farmworkers to be paid overtime, making it difficult to maintain competitive prices with states where labor costs are lower.

The rising cost of irrigation is another issue farmers are grappling with as groundwater levels continue to drop. Lindsey Pyle, a pumpkin farmer in North Texas, has seen her energy bills increase alongside other expenses. She lost about 20% of her yield this year. Steven Ness, who grows pinto beans and pumpkins in New Mexico, echoed the sentiment, stating that the lack of deep moisture and water in the aquifer is a significant problem for farmers in the region.

Climate change is exacerbating the water challenges faced by farmers. Aquifers take hundreds or thousands of years to refill after overuse, and the reduction in rainfall and snowfall due to climate change makes recharging them even more difficult. Jill Graves, who added a pumpkin patch to her blueberry farm in Texas, had to source pumpkins from a wholesaler this year due to the water shortage. While the purchased pumpkins rotted more quickly, Graves remains hopeful for next year.

Despite the challenges, some farmers, like Mazzotti, continue to farm pumpkins. However, he sees labor as the bigger issue. The increasing costs of irrigation, supplies, and labor create a "no-win situation" for farmers like him. Mazzotti plans to continue farming pumpkins for a bit longer but believes there is no future for his sons in farming. The combination of water challenges, labor costs, and other expenses makes it increasingly difficult for the next generation to sustain the pumpkin farming tradition.

Overall, this year's pumpkin crop serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing water challenges faced by farmers in the Southwest and West due to climate change. As droughts and heat extremes continue to worsen, farmers are forced to make tough choices about which crops to plant and how to navigate the increasing costs of irrigation and labor.