A primary focus for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] breeders recently has been the development of cultivars with improved oil qualities such as reduced palmitic acid (16:0) and linolenic acid (18:3). A backcross breeding program was used to develop five low 16:0, two low 16:0 + 18:3, and one low 18:3 modified fatty acid breeding lines (MFALs). Research objectives were (i) to determine planting date effects on fatty acid content in the eight MFALs and (ii) to compare the MFALs to parental cultivars for seed composition and agronomic traits. The eight MFALs and four control cultivars were evaluated at two planting dates at Clemson, SC, in 2001, 2003, and 2004. Planting dates were chosen to simulate full season and double crop planting dates for South Carolina soybean production. Agronomic traits including seed yield, plant height, lodging, maturity date, seed size, and seed quality were measured, and seeds were analyzed for protein, oil, and fatty acid levels. Planting date had a significant effect on all agronomic variables, as well as on protein, oil, and palmitic and linolenic acid. There was a decrease in palmitic acid at the late planting date, while the early planting date resulted in a decrease in linolenic acid levels. The effect of genotype was significant for all agronomic and seed composition variables measured when averaged across planting dates. It appears that planting date may be manipulated to reduce palmitic or linolenic acid of MFALs, although the extent of the reduction varies with genotype.