欧洲干旱影响小麦产量

Dry weather in parts of Europe is threatening production of key crops like wheat - at a time when the world is already battling high food prices and agricultural problems in other areas.

正当全世界各地面临高粮价和农业问题之际，欧洲部分地区的干旱气候已经威胁到小麦等主要农作物的生长。

Thursday's weather forecast brought some good news for parts of France - rain. But for the rest, it's more of the same - clear skies and sunshine.

星期四下雨的气象预报为法国部分地区带来喜讯。可是法国其它地区依旧是晴空万里和骄阳高照的天气。

Outdoor cafes are packed. But the French government is worried. Authorities have announced water restrictions in about a third of the country. This week, Environment Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet called the situation "critical."

巴黎的露天咖啡座依然拥挤，可是法国政府忧心忡忡。官方已经在全国三分之一地区宣布限制用水。而这个星期，法国环境部长科西斯科-莫里泽说，目前情势危急。

Farmers are particularly concerned.

特别感到担忧的是农民。

Dairy farmer Alain Duchemain told French TV his cows are having a hard time finding enough grass for grazing. Duchemin's hay harvest was a month early - and half the normal yield.

乳业农场主达谢敏告诉法国电视台，他饲养的乳牛无法找到足够的草地放牧。干草饲料的收获比预定季节早了一个月，产量只有往年的一半。

Poland, Austria, parts of southern Germany and Britain are also experiencing unusually dry weather and high spring temperatures.

波兰，奥地利，德国南部以及英国也都遭遇了干旱的气候，以及气温偏高的春季。

Ignacio Perez, cereal analyst for the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, said it's still early in the crop season. And while Europe accounts for one-fifth of the world's wheat production, so far drought has not hit Europe's biggest agricultural heavyweights, Russia and the Ukraine.

巴黎经济合作发展组织的谷类分析家伊格纳西奥·贝利兹说，现在仍是收成季节的早期。虽然欧洲小麦产量占全世界五分之一，欧洲的旱象还没有侵袭到重要的粮食产地乌克兰和俄罗斯。