Hey, the mods cn move the thread to another forum but the IMO title was well chosen & I was able to catch it and can learn something.
Anyway, IMO an earlier planting has a better chance to have the soil moisture to get a good start and grow roots that will be deeper when drier weather happens later in the growing season. Seems any crop would be vulnerable to drought conditions and results are often a matter of having a 'good year' no matter what.
btw, don't think hay farmers aren't 'real' farmers and don't know that.