I grew corn once, so I could say I did it. I didn't see or wasn't around to get in on the Christmas corn or, darn it, I would have made out like a bandit on multiple handshakes. EA kept not fixing this glitch (otherwise known as tilegate) and so finally I went ahead and started corn about a week before the V-Day update. The update ended multiple handshakes (as far as I know - haven't been able to do it with feeder towns), but no skin off my nose. I got corn in less than 2 weeks!
I don't mind tapping the farm. Thanks to tilegate using the farm, Channel 6, and the stage has become automatic. In fact, if I tried to stop, it'd be like switching from stick to manual - you know, like how you go to change gears even though you no longer have a clutch or gearshift.