Spring weather conditions have been generally favourable for the 1998 cereals. Spring maize and barley planting made good pace in early May when warm and dry conditions prevailed. Good rainfall in the second half of the month favoured germination and crop development. However, latest information continues to point to a significant reduction in cereal output in 1998, mostly due to a smaller wheat area and significantly lower yields expected, after last year’s bumper crop. Adverse autumn weather last year affected planting and low input use is expected to be reflected in low yields. Although the spring maize area is estimated to be somewhat above last year’s, yields are also expected to be lower.