TOPEKA – Farmers welcomed the rain last week, though most crop conditions did not see improvement statewide and some areas, particularly in the northwest which received hail damage, showed continued decline in crop conditions.

Two percent of the corn crop had not yet silked by Sunday. Seventy-five percent of the corn crop had reached the dough stage, behind 85 percent last year but the same as the 5-year average.

Thirty-six percent of the crop had dented, behind 45 percent the previous year and 37 percent for the 5-year average.

Eleven percent of the crop had reached maturity, ahead of 2010 at 10 percent and the 5 year average of 7 percent, while two percent of the corn was harvested, primarily in the southeast.

The condition of the crop declined to 21 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 25 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.

Eighty-seven percent of the soybean acreage has bloomed, slightly behind 89 percent last year and 88 percent for the 5-year average. Forty-seven percent of the crop had set pods, more than a week behind normal, and behind 55 percent for 2010 and 64 percent for a 5-year average. Soybean condition was rated 16 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 26 percent good, and 4 percent excellent.

The sorghum crop was 51 percent headed by Sunday, about a week behind normal, and behind 76 percent last year and 69 percent for the 5-year average. Four percent has turned color compared to 11 percent for both the previous year and the 5-year average. The sorghum condition declined slightly to 19 percent very poor, 22 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 23 percent good, and 4 percent excellent.

Five percent of the cotton crop was left to square by Sunday, and 61 percent of the crop had bolls set, behind last year at 78 percent and the 5-year average of 80 percent. Two percent of the crop had bolls opened, the same as 2010 and the 5-year average, and the crop’s condition improved slightly to 17 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 27 percent good, and 4 percent excellent.

Sixty-seven percent of the sunflower crop had bloomed as of Sunday, behind 70 percent last year but the same as the 5-year average. Eight percent of the crop had ray flowers dried, compared to 10 percent last year and 7 percent for the 5-year average. The condition of the crop declined slightly to 3 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.

The third cutting of alfalfa was 72 percent complete, behind 2010 at 89 percent and the 5-year average of 83 percent.