Feature: Farmers across Europe struggling with record hot and dry summer

ROME, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- European farmers are becoming increasingly downbeat as the longest and hottest drought in generations extends its hold over much of the continent.

Italy's National Research Council's Institute of Atmosphere and Climate Science said earlier this month that this year was on track to be the hottest and driest in Italy since records began in 1800. This is expected to reduce the country's overall agricultural output by at least a third.