Prodi Warns Italy's Farmers To Prepare For Drought As Early Springs Boost Erosion, Scramble Crops

[hatrack]

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A new study has found that spring is arriving two weeks ahead of time and many plants are flowering 10 to 20 days earlier than usual, possibly due to global warming. The report is a warning for Italy's farmers who fear that early germination or fruiting will put their crops at greater risk of frost and that droughts may become a regular problem.

"It's obvious to everyone that the climate is changing," said Franco Bruno, a botanist from Rome's Sapienza University, who conducted the research. He said the findings were in line with longer-term studies of trees which showed Italy's environment is warming.

The study, "Map of Spring", commissioned by the Italian government, looked at nine species of trees and flowers to see when they bloom, fruit and produce and shed leaves.

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In addition to the early sprouting of cereals, farmers were experiencing greater soil erosion due to warmer, drier weather and vegetable crops like fava beans and asparagus, which usually go to market in May, were already on sale in March, he said. Prime Minister Romano Prodi has warned farmers to prepare for drought this year after the warm and dry winter.

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http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/40892/story.htm