Wichita ? In a sure sign wheat harvest is near, winter wheat fields in Kansas have begun to turn a golden hue.

Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service reported this week that 2 percent of the crop has turned color, about the same as the five-year average for this time of year. About 85 percent of the crop has headed.

The agency ranked 39 percent of the state’s crop in poor to very poor condition. An additional 36 percent was rated as fair.

It rated 23 percent in good condition, with 2 percent ranked as excellent.

Kansas farmers also are making progress on their spring planting.

About 89 percent of the corn has now been planted, along with 10 percent of the state’s sorghum, 12 percent of the soybeans and 3 percent of the sunflowers, KASS reported.

Corn condition in Kansas was rated as 2 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 57 percent good and 6 percent excellent.