Wichita ? Kansas farmers are getting an earlier start this season planting the 2007 winter wheat crop, according to the Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service.

In its weekly crop update, the agency reported 5 percent of the wheat has been planted. That is 2 points ahead of last year, but about the same as the five-year average at this time of year.

In the meantime, farmers also are busy getting their fall crops into the bin.

This week’s update shows 21 percent of the corn in Kansas has been harvested. About 6 percent of the sorghum crops also have been harvested.