Picking out a jack-o'-lantern may cost a little more this year.

Farmers say a hot, dry summer and high fuel costs have made pumpkins harder and pricier to grow and ship. In Texas, Western Belle Farm went 77 days with no rain, co-owner Taylor Huffman told ABC's Good Morning America. The heat nearly wiped out the farm's crop. The farm trucked in pumpkins instead, but Huffman said the diesel bill is "almost double what we were spending last fall."

Illinois grows more pumpkins than any other state. There, the picture is mixed, said Raghela Scavuzzo of the Illinois Farm Bureau. Northern Illinois had a rough season with low yields. Southern Illinois got better rain and a big crop. "It's balancing out overall," she said.

Prices have crept up for years. Dayton station WHIO, citing the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reported a typical pumpkin cost about $4 in 2020, about $5.50 in 2023 and close to $6.20 this year.

But not every farm is raising prices. In Wisconsin, Swan's Pumpkin Farm kept its $14 entry wristband price, even as diesel, seed and fertilizer cost more, according to a report carried by FreshPlaza. Barthel Farms kept about 90% of its prices the same, though higher sugar costs nudged up some baked goods. Both farms said they are eating most of the extra cost for now.

How to save: Scavuzzo said fuel will be a big part of the price, so buying pumpkins grown close to home could save a few dollars. Pick-your-own patches and smaller pumpkins can also cost less. At Young's Jersey Dairy in Ohio, a large pre-picked pumpkin is $4, WHIO reported.

What we know: Heat, drought and diesel costs are raising farm costs, and average pumpkin prices have climbed.
What we don't: How much farms will pass on next year if costs stay high.