A drop in production compared to previous years is expected due to the acute water shortage. In the agricultural region of Emilia Romagna, the grape harvest will begin as early as August 10th. That’s about two weeks earlier than the average of recent years. Industry experts reported that the production of white wines fell by up to 30 percent and that of red wines by 15 percent.
The heat wave, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees, also had a negative impact on livestock farming in Italy. There was a 15 percent drop in milk production. The drought has already caused billions of dollars in damage to agriculture and has a negative impact on the prices of agricultural products, the Coldiretti farming association reported.
A state of emergency was declared in five northern Italian regions at the beginning of July due to the drought that has been going on for months. This will provide financial support to farmers and ranchers who are particularly hard hit by water shortages.
Source: Nachrichten
