NE Iowa Pumpkin Crop Not Affected by Heavy Rains

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Some Iowa growers say heavy rains haven't cut into their pumpkin crop.

Tammy Stotts, marketing specialist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, says growers she has spoken with all have plenty of pumpkins. She says officials aren't hearing "anything negative," and that it appears to be a good crop of pumpkins this year.

Rains have caused rot for pumpkin farmers elsewhere in the United States.

Deb Christopher of Rogers Market in rural Cedar Falls says they have sandy soil, so the rainy conditions were "perfect" for them. She says there are many pumpkins that are larger than normal this year.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2012 ag census, there were 381 farms in Iowa growing pumpkins on 1,175 acres.