TOPEKA – The soybean condition continued to improve while the corn condition declined amidst reports of aflatoxin in some of the harvested corn.

Eighty-seven percent of the corn crop had reached the dough stage by Sunday, behind 92 percent last year but the same as the 5-year average. Fifty-four percent of the crop had dented, behind 65 percent the previous year and 57 percent for the 5-year average. Fifteen percent of the crop had reached maturity, behind 2010 at 20 percent but ahead of the 5 year average of 14 percent.

Farmers only harvested 2 percent of the Kansas crop last week to reach 4 percent, though the producers in southeast Kansas have now harvested over a quarter of their corn acreage. The condition of the crop declined slightly to 23 percent very poor, 19 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 24 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.

Ninety-two percent of the soybean acreage has bloomed, compared to 95 percent last year and 94 percent for the 5-year average. Sixty-five percent of the crop had set pods, nearly a week behind normal, and behind 72 percent for 2010 and 76 percent for a 5-year average.

Soybean condition improved slightly and was rated 16 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 27 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.

The sorghum crop was 69 percent headed by Sunday, a week behind normal, and behind 88 percent last year and 82 percent for the 5-year average. Ten percent has turned color, well behind 22 percent for both the previous year and the 5-year average. The sorghum condition was rated 19 percent very poor, 22 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 22 percent good, and 5 percent excellent.

Seventy-six percent of the cotton crop had set bolls, behind last year at 89 percent and the 5-year average of 91 percent. Three percent of the crop had bolls opening, compared to 9 percent in 2010 and the 5-year average of 4 percent. The cotton condition improved to 13 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 45 percent fair, 25 percent good, and 5 percent excellent.

Eighty percent of the sunflower crop had bloomed as of Sunday, ahead of 79 percent last year and 76 percent for the 5-year average. Twenty-two percent of the crop had ray flowers dried, ahead of 17 percent last year and 15 percent for the 5-year average.

The condition of the crop was rated 3 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 42 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.

The third cutting of alfalfa was 82 percent complete, behind 2010 at 95 percent and the 5-year average of 91 percent, and the fourth cutting was just 3 percent complete as of Sunday.