WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

 
<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 
     statements
</LEGEND>
<CIK>  0000902277                     
<NAME>     Delta and Pine Land Company                   
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               AUG-31-1997                
<PERIOD-END>                    FEB-28-1997                
<CASH>                                 598         
<SECURITIES>                             0      
<RECEIVABLES>                       72,984             
<ALLOWANCES>                             0             
<INVENTORY>                         65,845            
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                   142,555            
<PP&E>                              83,082             
<DEPRECIATION>                      22,842            
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     214,804           
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              102,351     
<BONDS>                             75,968      
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    0      
<PREFERRED>                             45     
<COMMON>                             2,115     
<OTHER-SE>                          70,919           
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       214,804            
<SALES>                             72,742            
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    72,742            
<CGS>                               46,229           
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       46,229            
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                         0           
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0      
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   1,222           
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      7,725           
<INCOME-TAX>                         2,780           
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  4,918     
<DISCONTINUED>                           0      
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0      
<CHANGES>                                0       
<NET-INCOME>                         4,918          
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         0.22         
<EPS-DILUTED>                         0.22