Prospects for the 1997 cereal crop have deteriorated following heavy rains and flooding in July. It is reported that about 4-5 percent of the cereal crop was flooded as of July 24 with the Trnava region in south-east Slovakia the worst hit. Before the wet weather struck, the 1997 cereal harvest was estimated at somewhat over 3.6 million tons, an increase of some 10 percent over 1996. The full consequence of the damage on average cereal yields is not yet known but it is unlikely that the early above average levels will be achieved and output will fall below earlier expectations.