Butter: A hot item amongst hoarders this year.

In just a few short months, summer will make way for fall, and you know what that means. Pumpkins, sweaters, changing leaves, and of course, butter!

Wait, butter? According to dairy economist Mary Keough Ledman in Wisconsin Public Radio’s recent post, over 40 percent of the United States’ butter consumption occurs within the months of September, October, November, and December. However, Ledman warned that this year you might notice your favorite cold-weather, buttery treats costing you a bit more than they used to.

Last year, the U.S. significantly increased butter exports due to an unexpected excess of butter fat, which has been back in style across the globe since new research suggests that it’s not as unhealthy as everyone thought. Unfortunately, exporters overestimated just how much was actually available, and the country has gone from a butter surplus to a butter shortage in just one year, resulting in lower butter inventory leading into autumn.

While potentially devastating to some, it’s too soon to say exactly what prices will be, but Brian Gould, professor in the Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics at UW- Madison, assured that low supplies will, indeed, result in Americans shelling out more money for their butter this fall. The only question now is, who’s going to break it to Paula Deen?