<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
    This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from SEC Form
    10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial state-
    ments.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>     0000902277                    
<NAME>              Delta and Pine Land Company          
<MULTIPLIER>                                  1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                    NOV-30-1996
 
<CASH>                             1,519
<SECURITIES>                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                       6,446
<ALLOWANCES>                        0
<INVENTORY>                         60,779
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    72,114
<PP&E>                              79,528
<DEPRECIATION>                      (21,635)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     142,391
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              43,535
<BONDS>                            44,171
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                0
<PREFERRED>                           45
<COMMON>                              2,114
<OTHER-SE>                           62,346
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       142,391
<SALES>                              6,317
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                     6,317
<CGS>                                5,129    
<TOTAL-COSTS>                        5,129
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       269
<INCOME-PRETAX>                       (6,825)
<INCOME-TAX>                           (2,457)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                    (4,381)
<DISCONTINUED>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<CHANGES>                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                            (4,381)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            (0.21)
<EPS-DILUTED>                            (0.21)