Latest official estimates put the aggregate 2002 cereal harvest at about 26.9 million tonnes, down from about 27 million tonnes last year. While the wheat crop remained virtually unchanged this year at about 9.3 million tonnes, output of rye, the second most important crop, fell sharply to 4 million tonnes, from 5 million tonnes in the previous year. Output of barley and triticale increased and although the final outcome of the summer maize crop is still uncertain an increase is also expected. Although some widespread rainfall in October has greatly improved the soil moisture content for the winter grains the north west of the country still remains very dry.