It does help, BUT it will likely divide the stats the crop would have inherited by 2 or 3, depending on whatever the config in the modpack/mod is set to (unless it's set to 1, then it keeps everything the way it was. Most modpacks that I've seen don't do this, making one grind each time for a super crop). That being said, the recovery process back to 10/10/10 can be sped up by cross-breeding four plants simultaneously with one cross-crop, allowing for stat jumps of 5 at times per generation. Then it's just a matter of cloning the plant three more times and doing another round. Using this method it is generally possible to get a crop up to 10/10/10 status in a matter of 6 generations or less, depending on your luck.Had a rethink on the "all the things mentality" . Going back to NEI and getting the crops I want rather than my initial scatter gun approach. Got maxed out barley for my Food generator now and maxed out wheat for cows.
Also I assumed it would make a difference maxing out the stats before cross breading. Is this not right?