MEXICO (14 February)
Water reservoir levels and weather conditions are reported adequate for the irrigated 2003 wheat crops in the northwestern areas of the country (planted October/December 2002). The area planted is slightly higher than the past five-year average of 718 000 hectares. Harvest is due to start from April and early forecasts point to an average production of about 3.3 million tonnes. Harvesting operations of the important summer crop (planted in spring/summer 2002) is far advanced. Prospects are good and total maize production for 2002 (crops planted fall/winter 2001/02 and spring/summer 2002) is early forecast at 19 million tonnes which is slightly better than the past five-year average of 18.3 million tonnes. Harvesting of 2002 sorghum crop has been completed and the output is estimated at about 5.5 million tonnes, below the 5.9 million tonnes collected in 2001 and about 6 per cent below average. The decline has been due to severe dry weather in the main producing state of Tamaulipas.