Pavia is at the heart of Italy's rice-making industry. The province regularly produces nearly 5 million tonnes of the grain each year. But this year there was not enough spring rain and its rice farmers are despondent.

Summer came too early to Europe's most important rice growing region and weeds are taking over Sharon Angoli's parched paddies in Italy's Pavia province.

Italian rice farmers are despondent over the lack of spring rain, while rivers from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea are in ‘critical situation’ because of drought.

Summer came too early to Europe's most important rice growing region and weeds are taking over Sharon Angoli's parched paddies in Italy's Pavia province.

TORRE BERETTI, Italy: Summer came too early to Europe’s most important rice growing region and weeds are taking over Sharon Angoli’s parched paddies in Italy’s Pavia province.…

Pavia is at the heart of Italy's rice-making industry. The province regularly produces nearly 5 million tonnes of the grain each year. But this year there was not enough spring…

TORRE BERETTI: Summer came too early to Europe’s most important rice growing region and weeds are taking over...

TORRE BERETTI (Italy), July 5 — Summer came too early to Europe’s most important rice-growing region and weeds are taking over Sharon Angoli’s parched paddies in Italy’s...

Northern Italy’s renowned rice-growing heartland is facing a severe drought, with farmers in Pavia province warning that drinking rivers, depleted reservoirs and persistent heat…