<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from SEC
     Form 10-K and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
     statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>               0000902277                     
<NAME>              Delta and Pine Land Company                        
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   AUG-31-1997
<CASH>                                         1,890
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  95,437
<ALLOWANCES>                                   281
<INVENTORY>                                    42,886
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               145,449
<PP&E>                                         63,022
<DEPRECIATION>                                 24,273
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 220,656
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          112,524
<BONDS>                                        30,831
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    80
<COMMON>                                       3,772
<OTHER-SE>                                     68,679
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   220,656
<SALES>                                        183,249
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               183,249
<CGS>                                          127,789
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  127,789
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             2,204
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                9,679
<INCOME-TAX>                                   2,766
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            6,913
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   6,850
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.17