<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

       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   NOV-30-1997
<CASH>                                         4,140
<SECURITIES>                                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  11,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    68,447
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               90,829
<PP&E>                                         90,851
<DEPRECIATION>                                 25,740
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 166,729
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          56,443
<BONDS>                                        48,109
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    80
<COMMON>                                       3,795
<OTHER-SE>                                     65,110
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   166,729
<SALES>                                        5,340
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               5,340
<CGS>                                          3,273
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  3,273
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (66)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             343
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (7,367)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (2,726)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (4,665)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (4,665)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.12)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.12)