Growers planting Pioneer(R) brand corn hybrids won 22 of 27 categories in the 2003 National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Corn Yield Contest announced today.

Farmers growing Pioneer hybrids finished in first-place in seven of nine national classes.  Among second-place winners, those growing Pioneer hybrids won seven of nine categories and, among third-place winners, growers planting Pioneer hybrids won eight of nine categories.

The highest yield within the contest was Dave K. Hula, Charles City, Va., who planted Pioneer brand 33M54 with a yield of 321.84 bushels per acre in the national no till/strip till non-irrigated class.  The second highest yielding hybrid in the national contest was grown by Donny Carpenter, Dimmitt, Texas, with Pioneer hybrid 33B51 in the irrigated class.

"We're excited to see the continued success growers have with Pioneer products in this contest," says Bill Fleet, Pioneer vice president for North American sales.  "We at Pioneer are honored that, year after year, the overwhelming majority of corn growers who win in the NCGA Corn Yield Contest choose Pioneer corn hybrids as their entries.  That says a lot about the value Pioneer hybrids bring to the bottom line of all growers."

The NCGA Corn Yield Contest is an annual national competition among corn growers with the goal of producing the highest yields.  Growers compete in nine corn production classes, including conventional, no-till/strip-till non- irrigated, no-till/strip-till irrigated, ridge-till non-irrigated, ridge-till irrigated and irrigated classes.

For more information about Pioneer corn hybrids grown by contest winners and the broad range of top-producing Pioneer products, growers should contact their local Pioneer sales representative.

For a list of the national winners, yield totals and hybrid numbers, go to http://www.pioneer.com/pioneer_news/press_releases/products/ncga_national_results.htm.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries. DuPont is a science company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by solving problems and creating solutions that make people's lives better, safer and easier.  Operating in more than 70 countries, the company offers a wide range of products and services to markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

Pioneer(R) brand is a registered trademark of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.