Italy's Historic Drought , Impacts Farmers , and Food Production .<br />Last week, Italy declared a state <br />of emergency in five of its northern regions <br />amid the worst drought in 70 years. .<br />Al Jazeera reports that Italian farmers' confederation <br />Coldiretti estimates the drought has caused <br />$3 billion dollars worth of damage to agriculture.<br />According to Italy’s agriculture <br />ministry, a third of the national <br />agricultural output was at risk.<br />While speaking to the country's parliament, <br />the agriculture minister also warned that the <br />situation is expected to get worse in the years to come.<br />Italy's northern lakes and rivers have reached <br />historical lows after meager Alpine snowfall <br />and nearly no precipitation in spring. .<br />Al Jazeera reports that Italy's northern regions produce 40% of the country's agricultural output.<br />The ongoing drought <br />threatens to cut <br />that output in half.<br />The government has allocated <br />$36.5 million in emergency aid to be <br />distributed among five regional institutions.<br />However, Al Jazeera reports <br />that it may take years before <br />those funds are distributed.<br />Meanwhile, the European Milk Board (EMB) has warned <br />that dairy farms across the continent are facing an "extreme rise" in costs for energy, fertilizers and feed. .<br />Al Jazeera reports that Italy's water crisis is not <br />an isolated one, with similar situations reported across <br />the continent due to an extreme lack of precipitation. .<br />Al Jazeera reports that Italy's water crisis is not <br />an isolated one, with similar situations reported across <br />the continent due to an extreme lack of precipitation.
