Harvest on the Edge: Climate and economic pressures affecting the future of local fall festivals
September 19, 2025
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — For farmers across Central New York, the fall harvest festival events are no longer just about cider and corn mazes. Instead, it’s about survival in the face of climate change and escalating expenses.
Fall harvest festivals are cultural celebrations of agricultural abundance held around the time of the main crop harvest in a region, usually featuring apple and pumpkin picking, wagon rides, music, and corn mazes.
Research shows there are various rising pressures for local farms including climate impacts—shorter growing seasons, late frosts wiping out blossoms—and economic pressures such as higher labor costs, equipment repairs, and crop insurance, according to the New York State Climate Impacts Assessment. For many farmers in Central New York, fall harvest events are the only way to survive the winter season without selling land or scaling into industrial agriculture.
“We are still in a drought,” said Paulie Drexler, co-owner of Springside Farm in Fabius-Pompey, NY. “Those of us with long-term crops—Christmas trees, berries, apples, grapes—anybody who’s not growing an annual crop will tell you, that the climate has changed, and not for the better.”
Average fertilizer and fuel input costs for Central New York farmers has risen significantly over the past decade as well, according to the NYS Climate Impacts Assessment.
Another local farmer, Critz Farms co-owner Matthew Critz, said rising costs impact are felt in every aspect of his business.
“The pallets have gone up,” said Critz. “Fertilizer's gone up, fungicides gone up, labor’s gone up, everything’s gone up.”
An analysis study done by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) last year found the climatic cycle involving drought, heat and wildfires cost U.S. crop producers $11 billion in 2024.
Paulie's son Travis Drexler who has worked on the farm since he was a kid, said the rising cost for labor is their biggest economic challenge.
“Labor is definitely an on-going issue,” said Travis. “I think any farm, no matter what you’re doing, any agricultural industry is struggling to find domestic labor.”
In order to combat climate impacts and economic pressures, Springside is one of many Central New York farms that’s innovating and adapting by using greenhouses to extend the season, as well as grow more cold-hardy vegetables and more diversification into specialty fruits.
“We knew they wanted more stuff under cover, so that was a no-brainer,” said Paulie. “It also keeps the UV-light off of the elements, which increases their lifespan.”
Critz said they have adapted by preparing for rain droughts or heavy snow further ahead of time than they normally would.
“Got to look at the weather first,” said Critz. “The weather for the week, the weather for the day, and try to adapt and use the crew most efficiently.”
Pauile and her staff are testing a sustainable farm strategy that uses a combination of biological, cultural and physical tools to manage crop pests effectively, while minimizing environmental risks and costs.
“Something new we've tried is integrated press management on a limited bases,” said Paulie. “We've tried encouraging beneficial insects and stay as far away from chemical solutions... I don't want to have to go nuclear with uncontrolled pesticide chemicals that take out everything."
The Fall of the Farm harvest festival at Springside, and the Fall Harvest Celebration at Critz Farms, both began on Saturday, September 13th, and both plan on running through Saturday, October 26th. Activities at the Springside festival include a barrel train, pedal cars, zip lines, petting zoo, basketball wagon, and a pumpkin picking patch, whereas Crtiz Farms is offering a "pirate ship" corn maze, farm aniamls area, tap room and apple cider-making, and apple and pumpkin picking.
