<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> (Replace this text with the legend) </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000078716 <NAME> PIONEER HI-BRED <MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000 <CURRENCY> USD <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> FEB-28-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.0 <CASH> 76 <SECURITIES> 196 <RECEIVABLES> 408 <ALLOWANCES> 41 <INVENTORY> 843 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,646 <PP&E> 1,171 <DEPRECIATION> 552 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,389 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 961 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 280 <OTHER-SE> 820 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,389 <SALES> 376 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 376 <CGS> 278 <TOTAL-COSTS> 278 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 200 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10 <INCOME-PRETAX> (108) <INCOME-TAX> (36) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (72) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (72) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.30) <EPS-DILUTED> (.30)