Planting of the 1998/99 first season cereal crops is delayed as a consequence of the late arrival of the rainy season. The country continues to be affected by El Niño-related abnormally high temperatures and dry weather which have exacerbated ground fires caused by slash and burn agricultural activities. Air quality problems have been reported in locations such as the capital and San Pedro Sula in the northwest. Assuming normal rains resume, plantings of the 1998 first season maize crop, the main cereal, should be about average. Food assistance is still distributed to last year’s drought affected rural population and is expected to continue until the first 1998 harvest.