Widespread rainfall over several days in the past week has slowed the Kansas winter wheat harvest, and hail has damaged the crops in the northwest part of the state.

The National Agricultural Statistics Serve reported Monday that 40 percent of the wheat crop has now been cut, well behind the average of 66 percent in late June.

About 84 percent of the wheat has matured and is ready to cut.

The agency reports that weeds in standing wheat were becoming such a big problem that some farmers are spraying.

The condition of wheat still in the field continues to deteriorate, with 61 percent reported in poor to very poor shape. About 27 percent is rated as fair, 11 percent as good and 1 percent excellent.