Scott, Mississippi
April 23, 2003

Delta and Pine Land Company (D&PL) has announced that Ken Fearday will be joining the company as president of D&PL International and director of international business. Fearday will join the company in May 2003.

"Our international business is a key component of D&PL's growth strategy as we continue to expand our presence in current markets as well as enter new markets," said Tom Jagodinski, D&PL president and chief executive officer. "Ken has the experience and expertise to have a positive impact on our business immediately. We look forward to the contributions he will make."

Fearday brings more than 20 years of executive level experience in the seed industry, having held the role of president with Research Seeds Inc., Advanta Seeds and J.M. Schultz Seed companies. He has extensive experience managing a wide spectrum of business activities in the global seed industry in addition to negotiating business acquisitions, research collaborations and technology license agreements.

Several industry associations have benefited from Fearday's leadership. He is currently president and director of the Western Seed Association and past president and director of the Field Seed Institute of North America. He is also past chairman of the American Seed Trade Association's Lawn Seed Division and Management Skills committee.

Fearday's educational training includes both bachelor and masters degrees in accounting and business administration from the University of Illinois in Champaign. He has continued his education throughout his career attending Purdue University (ASTA Executive Management Seminar, National Conference for Agribusiness, Strategic Marketing), Wilson Learning and University of Wisconsin leadership series, the University of Missouri GICL and Harvard School of Business Executive Agribusiness Short Course.

Delta and Pine Land Company is a commercial breeder, producer and marketer of cotton planting seed and soybean varieties. For almost 90 years, the Company has used its extensive cotton plant breeding programs and diverse germplasm base to develop improved varieties for producers around the world. Based in Scott, Mississippi, Delta and Pine Land (NYSE: DLP) has offices in eight US states along with operations in several foreign countries including China.