<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000902277 <NAME> Delta and Pine Land Company <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000 <CASH> 87,467 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 182,396 <ALLOWANCES> 1,091 <INVENTORY> 35,278 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 313,701 <PP&E> 101,988 <DEPRECIATION> 36,944 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 390,134 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 215,315 <BONDS> 2,482 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 107 <COMMON> 3,895 <OTHER-SE> 155,626 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 390,134 <SALES> 301,181 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 301,181 <CGS> 201,814 <TOTAL-COSTS> 201,814 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 67 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 852 <INCOME-PRETAX> 126,441 <INCOME-TAX> 44,150 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 82,291 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> (2,965) <NET-INCOME> 79,326 <EPS-BASIC> 2.06 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.98