The big growers around here have been planting narrow row spacing for 3 years now. They all harvest for grain with corn heads on combines. Looking at the plant, much shorter, smaller ears, smaller kerrnal, but higher plant-ear population per acre raising yields. The dry down rates, heavily, dependent on weather conditions, seem to be the same. Another wave of modern farming. Ridge planting was one of those waves, not around so much now. Chopping can start here, as early as August. Corns already up to your shoulders in many spots local. Many planted first, second week of May. Another note, sweet corns been out since June 20th,( $5/ dz.) those that planted on black plastic.