Italy, and Spain are facing adverse farming conditions that could lead to lower yields this year.

Although Spain, with two years of drought behind it, has had plenty of rain, some regions still face water restrictions.

In Italy, meanwhile, water management is a becoming a hot button subject, as growers and energy companies vie for access to water reserves.

Italy’s Civil Defence said rainfall between September and February was abnormally low and water levels in many lakes and rivers in the north - where main reservoirs are located - were below levels considered critical.

Civil Defence has stopped short of declaring a crisis but said the start of the farm irrigation season in May might trigger serious water shortages.

“The winter was too warm, so we can see poor yields and lower production,” said Rolando Manfredini, analyst at Italy’s biggest farmers’ association Coldiretti.

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