Planting of the 1997/98 wheat crop has been recently completed and fieldwork has begun in preparation for sowing of the coarse grain crops. Agricultural activities had been interrupted in early June as a consequence of storm rains and flooding, attributed to “El Niño” effect, with serious damage to housing and infrastructure, but which also put an end to a long and severe dry spell affecting the country. The area planted to wheat is provisionally estimated at a slightly above average 420 000 hectares, a significant recovery from the 1996 drought affected level. Intended plantings of maize and oats should be above average.