Weather conditions continue favouring planting and development of the 1997 maize crop across the main growing regions of the southern plateau and eastern belt, while below- normal rains are reported in the western belt. Overall prospects are good and a near record 8.1 million hectares of maize are expected to be sown, in response to an anticipated strong expansion in domestic demand largely caused by a generally improved national economy. Early production forecasts point out to a bumper crop provided normal weather persists. Significant production increases are expected in some particular states, such as Sinaloa, where more than 2 million tons of maize should be produced. Sowing of the 1997 spring/summer sorghum crop has started. By contrast, plantings are expected to decline from last year's record 1.6 million hectares to some 1.4 million hectares, principally as a consequence of unattractive prices caused by a strong import competition. Sorghum imports are anticipated to be about 2 million tons, close to the high level of receipts of the previous year.