TOPEKA – With the heat and dry weather, the condition of Kansas’ row crops declined slightly last week.

Ninety-three percent of the corn crop had reached the dough stage by Sunday, behind 95 percent last year and the 5-year average of 94 percent. Sixty-seven percent of the crop had dented, behind 80 percent the previous year and 74 percent for the 5-year average. Twenty-five percent of the crop had reached maturity, behind 2010 at 33 percent but ahead of the 5 year average of 24 percent.

Kansas corn producers harvested an additional 4 percent of the Kansas crop last week to reach 8 percent complete, though the producers in the Southeast District have now harvested 49 percent of their corn acreage. There continue to be reports of aflatoxin in harvested corn.

The condition of the crop continued to decline to 23 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 22 percent good, and 5 percent excellent.

Ninety-five percent of the soybean acreage has bloomed, behind 99 percent for both last year and the 5-year average. Seventy-seven percent of the crop had set pods, 6 points behind 2010 and 10 points behind the 5-year average. Leaves are beginning to drop on 2 percent of the soybean acreage, compared to 3 percent last year, and 4 percent for the 5-year average. Soybean condition was rated 18 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 24 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.

The sorghum crop was 77 percent headed by Sunday, behind 94 percent last year and 90 percent for the 5-year average. Twenty percent has turned color, well behind 41 percent for the previous year and the 5-year average of 38 percent. The sorghum condition was rated 21 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 20 percent good, and 5 percent excellent.

Eighty-four percent of the cotton crop had set bolls, behind last year at 95 percent and the 5-year average of 97 percent. Eight percent of the crop had bolls opening, compared to 12 percent in 2010 and the 5-year average of 7 percent. The cotton condition declined to 19 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 22 percent good, and 4 percent excellent.

Ninety percent of the sunflower crop had bloomed as of Sunday, ahead of 89 percent last year and 85 percent for the 5-year average. Thirty-six percent of the crop had ray flowers dried, ahead of 27 percent last year and 29 percent for the 5-year average. Sixteen percent of the sunflowers had turned yellow, ahead of 3 percent last year and 6 percent for the 5-year average. The condition of the crop was rated 4 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.

The third cutting of alfalfa was 87 percent complete, behind 2010 at 99 percent and the 5-year average of 96 percent, and the fourth cutting was 12 percent complete as of Sunday, behind 33 percent last year and 31 percent for the 5-year average.