The warmest winter in nearly 200 years threatens this year's harvests in Italy, Greece, and Spain. Italy's Civil Defense officials reported that winter rainfall had been 20-60% below normal, and many lakes and rivers in the north are below critical levels. Wheat crops have been weakened and are more vulnerable to disease. In Greece, the General Confederation of Greek Agrarian Associations warned that maize and wheat could be seriously affected by lack of rain. While Spanish farmers in the major grain-growing regions of Castilla-Leon, Extremadura, southwestern Andalusia, and lower Aragon had a wetter-than-normal winter, Almeria -- where many fruits and vegetables are grown -- is suffering from drought, reported the Meteorological Institute.