Interest in early planting of soybeans in Louisiana has grown in recent years. In some cases, good yields have been obtained from Maturity Group (MG) IV soybeans planted earlier than recommended by the LSU AgCenter. Interest has also been increasing in MG III beans as well due to the potential for early maturity. An evaluation of planting date response, using modern varieties, was conducted for these maturity groups. The study location was on Sharkey clay at the Northeast Research Station, Saint Joseph, LA in 2005. The harvested area of the plot consisted of four 41-cm rows planted on a flat seed bed. Seven Maturity Group IV and two Maturity Group III varieties were utilized. The initial planting date was April 15, with five additional planting dates established at approximate two-week intervals. Data was collected on date of the R1 growth stage, maturity, and yield.