<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000902277 <NAME> Delta and Pine Land Company <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000 <CASH> 61,845 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 260,896 <ALLOWANCES> 520 <INVENTORY> 47,276 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 384,233 <PP&E> 100,034 <DEPRECIATION> 36,033 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 460,050 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 280,492 <BONDS> 189 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 107 <COMMON> 3,891 <OTHER-SE> 160,977 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 460,050 <SALES> 286,116 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 286,116 <CGS> 189,585 <TOTAL-COSTS> 189,585 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 8 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 265 <INCOME-PRETAX> 134,840 <INCOME-TAX> 47,868 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 86,972 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> (2,965) <NET-INCOME> 84,007 <EPS-BASIC> 2.17 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.09