<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from SEC 
Form 10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by referece 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>                    MAY-31-1998
<CASH>                          15,015
<SECURITIES>                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                   183,707
<ALLOWANCES>                    0
<INVENTORY>                     58,931
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                261,722
<PP&E>                          92,379
<DEPRECIATION>                  25,688
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  339,401
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           177,457
<BONDS>                         56,114
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>           0
<PREFERRED>                     80
<COMMON>                        3,838
<OTHER-SE>                      95,654
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    339,401
<SALES>                         126,029
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                126,029
<CGS>                           86,011
<TOTAL-COSTS>                   15,041
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                420
<LOSS-PROVISION>                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              1,332
<INCOME-PRETAX>                 23,225
<INCOME-TAX>                    9,260
<INCOME-CONTINUING>             13,965
<DISCONTINUED>                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                 0
<CHANGES>                       0
<NET-INCOME>                    13,965
<EPS-PRIMARY>                   0.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                   0.34