At least a few wheat farmers in the Upper Midwest are taking advantage of the unusually mild and dry winter to start planting in mid-March.

While there’s still a chance of a bad frost, they’re taking a calculated risk that the early start will let them reap a bigger crop this summer.

Mike Bergeron started sowing wheat on his farm near Fisher, Minn., on St. Patrick’s Day. One week earlier, he was still snowmobiling. He says he and his business partner have already planted 450 acres on their way to 1,200.

Experts say the early start is as rare as it sounds, but the gamble may pay off.

Corn and soybean farmers are still sitting tight, however. Early planting doesn’t normally benefit their crops, which are more vulnerable to frost.