'I couldn't look': European farmers on losing crops as the industry collides with worsening drought

Global heating means annual drought losses across Europe could reach ?17.5bn. Shipping and power generation are also being affected by low water levelsCrumbling a fistful of sandy soil by his dried-up sunflower field, Thomas Goebel pointed to one of the many casualties of this year's drought: a bright green machine that resembles a tractor crossed with a biplane.The Gurkenflieger (cucumber plane) used to roll proudly through his fields with farmhands in the wings plucking vegetables to make salty-sweet-sour Spreewald gherkins. Goebel stopped using it for production five years ago - his pickles could not compete with supermarket prices - and a recent experiment letting tourists ride inside generated enthusiasm but little profit. Continue reading...