Google translation (Original article in Italian below.):
– Bad weather: Coldiretti, code red for agriculture in Tuscany (Libero, Feb. 9, 2012):
Florence, February 9 – (Adnkronos) – blizzard comes and farmers tremble. Sale in Tuscany concern for agricultural production already ‘put to the test by a week of freezing temperatures. The worsening weather conditions expected over the weekend and announced the arrival of the dreaded snow storm and icy Baltic carry the warning level on the code red.
” We are very worried – admits Tulio Marcelli, Regional Chair Coldiretti Tuscany – Snow and ‘definitely a problem, but the cold may’ be a very dangerous factor for agricultural production. In general, for many crops on our land as olive trees and vines from frost damage to equipment and will be visible and measurable only at the vegetative growth, therefore, to date, and ‘difficult to make an analysis of some of the entity’ of the damage. The sudden drop in temperature, for a period so ‘long, can’ do much harm.”
Meanwhile Coldiretti Tuscany (info at www.toscana.coldiretti.it) certifies already ‘some situations scattered’ throughout the region of strong critical ‘where the production of seasonal vegetables grown in open fields (see sprouts, cabbage, artichokes and in general, leafy vegetables like lettuce, radicchio, endive, borage, spinach, chicory) and ‘lost with rates of up to 50%, the cold has also affected the product already’ harvest and during storage.
Read more‘Code Red For Agriculture In Tuscany’ (Libero): Loss Rates Of Up To 50 Percent!