<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000902277 <NAME> Delta and Pine Land Company <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1999 <CASH> 7,552 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 148,401 <ALLOWANCES> 475 <INVENTORY> 47,727 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 217,543 <PP&E> 96,944 <DEPRECIATION> 31,778 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 295,758 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 172,040 <BONDS> 20,819 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 107 <COMMON> 3,866 <OTHER-SE> 85,431 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 295,758 <SALES> 260,465 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 260,465 <CGS> 185,314 <TOTAL-COSTS> 57,377 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,272 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,502 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,000 <INCOME-TAX> 3,427 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,573 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,477 <EPS-BASIC> 0.19 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.18