<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     (Replace this text with the legend)
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                          0000078716
<NAME>                                         PIONEER HI-BRED 
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000,000
<CURRENCY>                                     USD
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 SEP-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAY-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         63
<SECURITIES>                                   221
<RECEIVABLES>                                  587
<ALLOWANCES>                                   26
<INVENTORY>                                    414
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,326
<PP&E>                                         1,080
<DEPRECIATION>                                 513
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,013
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          479
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       279
<OTHER-SE>                                     1,120
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2,013
<SALES>                                        1,698
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,698
<CGS>                                          831
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  831
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               420
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             9
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                485
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (166)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            319
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   319
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.26