VOA新闻杂志2022--干旱威胁着意大利著名的葡萄、橄榄作物

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Dry Weather Threatens Italy’s Famous Grape, Olive¹ Crops

Farmers in Italy's famous Tuscany area are struggling to save grape and olive crops threatened by a heatwave and drought conditions.

A lack of rainfall since spring has even affected² plants that traditionally grow well in hot and dry weather.

In San Casciano in Val di Pesa, near Florence, olive trees line the hillsides. But farmers say the dry soil is preventing the trees from producing the normal amount of fruit.

Tuscany is famous around the world for its olive oil and wine from grapes. But growers in the area say dry, hot weather has recently had a major effect on the crops and harmed production.

"We had a very dry spring with practically no rain from March to today," olive grower Filippo Legnaioli told Reuters. He said this year's heat and lack of water happened during an important time, when the flowers were changing to fruit.

Without water, many flowers fall to the ground before they can produce fruit. Legnaioli said this year's oil production could be reduced by up to 60 percent.

Other olive growers have decided³ to change some of their farming methods. They have added extra watering systems to make up for the lack of rainfall and hot temperatures.

Farmer Luigi Calonaci told Reuters the "rescue" watering methods aim "to protect the production of olives⁴ on the plants."

The system works through a pipe placed beneath the trees to release small amounts of water. Calonaci's farm has also been using a white netting material to protect the plants from olive fruit flies, whose larvae⁵ feed on the fruit of the trees. While the farmers say that problem is not directly related to the drought, it can also cause big crop losses.

The effects of climate change have not only affected production and plants but have also created new areas in Italy where crops can be grown. A few years ago, olive farms were mainly found in hot and dry areas such as Sicily. Now, areas such as Val d'Aosta in the far north of Italy – which is famous for its ski resorts and mountains – can produce their own oil.

Climate change is also affecting wine crops in Tuscany. In Chianti, for example, September is normally the month for the yearly grape harvest. But with continued high temperatures, many grapes are ripening⁷ earlier than expected.

"We have smaller grapes, and we expect the number of grapes to be lower than the average of the last few years," said Sergio Zingarelli, who helps lead a local grape farming group.

In addition to the reduction in grapes caused by the current heatwave, wine growers also have to deal with other extreme weather events.

Paolo Cianferoni is the owner of Chianti's "Caparsa" winery. He said a hailstorm recently destroyed 40 percent of grapes in the area. He told Reuters, "Luckily the quality of the grapes has not been affected, so we'll see what happens."

Words in This Story

drought – n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain

practically – adv. in a suitable or useful way

net – n. a material made of crossed threads with holes between them

larva – n. (larvae pl.) the form of some creatures before then develop into full form

ripen⁶ – v. to become ripe: developed enough to be eaten

hailstorm – n. a sudden fall of hail: small, hard balls of ice that fall from the sky like rain

1 olive   

n.橄榄，橄榄树，橄榄色；adj.黄绿色的，黄褐色的，橄榄色的

参考例句：

• Have you eaten a kind of fruit called olive?你吃过橄榄这种水果吗？
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace.她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 olives   

n.橄榄( olive的名词复数 )；橄榄树；橄榄色；油橄榄

参考例句：

• We sat drinking wine and nibbling olives. 我们坐在那儿，喝着葡萄酒嚼着橄榄。
• He sent her two pieces of olives in letter. 他在信中给她夹了两片橄榄树的叶子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 larvae   

n.幼虫

参考例句：

• Larvae are parasitic on sheep.幼虫寄生在绵羊的身上。
• The larvae prey upon small aphids.这种幼虫以小蚜虫为食。

6 ripen   

vt.使成熟；vi.成熟

参考例句：

• I'm waiting for the apples to ripen.我正在等待苹果成熟。
• You can ripen the tomatoes on a sunny windowsill.把西红柿放在有阳光的窗台上可以让它们成熟。

7 ripening   

v.成熟，使熟( ripen的现在分词 )；熟化；熟成

参考例句：

• The corn is blossoming [ripening]. 玉米正在开花[成熟]。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• When the summer crop is ripening, the autumn crop has to be sowed. 夏季作物成熟时，就得播种秋季作物。 来自《简明英汉词典》