(AP) — The European Union's farmers' union is warning that drought, cold and hail have conspired to produce the worst wine harvest for the region in up to half a century. Farmers union expert Thierry Coste said Wednesday that France's grape harvest is expected to slump by almost 20 percent compared to last year. Italy's grape crop showed a 7 percent drop — on top of a decline in 2011. The Champagne and Burgundy regions were hard hit by weather conditions that particularly affected the chardonnay grape.