It’s the first day of Fall, which means corn mazes and pumpkin patches are going up across the country.

However, the hot and dry summer we’ve had across the U.S. has been taking quite the toll on these Fall traditions.

“For the most part, we have six-to-seven foot tall corn. Usually we have eight-to-nine foot corn,” said Craig Pulley of Fiddle Dee Farms in Tennessee.

As you can imagine, little to no precipitation is not beneficial for vegetation – especially corn.

“We plant later than most farms do because the corn maze comes in September and October.”

Regardless, Pulley is intending on having a good corn maze season, even if it’s a little shorter than in seasons past. The heat has stunted the growth of many of the corn mazes.

“We got lucky in that when we first planted we had plenty of rain, but then this dry spell hit and it was very, very noticeable. A lot of the corn started tasseling, which means it’s done growing,” said Pulley.

Unfortunately, many of Pulley’s vendors are short of pumpkins this year because of the weather.

“Most of them are telling me that they’ve never really experienced a year quite like this, even though we’ve had dry spells before. Typically they still produce pumpkins,” said Pulley.

But this year, no rain means no pumpkins.

“Certainly the lack of moisture – because everything out here is trying to get something to drink and sometimes the corn doesn’t win,” said Pulley.

Next week is when the Shuckles Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch opens at Fiddle Dee Farms.

“We’re hoping for a cold spell to bring the temperatures back down to the low 80s and the 70s and then people will come all day long,” said Pulley.

He’s also hoping for some rain to make sure all his corn is hydrated.