A labor shortage coupled with high costs is beginning to hurt farmers in the pumpkin capital of the world.

In Morton, John Ackerman, owner of Ackerman Family Farms, reports farmers across central Illinois are feeling the pinch.

Coupled with the high prices, Ackerman said this is the first year his farm has advertised for help amidst a growing labor shortage. Currently, Ackerman Family Farms grows over 1-hundred fifty different varieties of pumpkins.