Delta and Pine Land Company announced the acquisition of more than 500,000 square feet of warehouse space in Indianola, Mississippi, formerly owned by Modern Tool and Die Products (MTD).  This is an extension of the company's commitment to the Delta, which already includes facilities in Washington and Bolivar counties.  The Indianola warehouse will be utilized immediately.  The company expects to spend up to an additional $2 million to make necessary upgrades and modifications to the location.

"In the last several years, D&PL has been looking at the best means of managing our supply chain and the Mississippi Delta is a central hub for us," according to Charles Michell, D&PL's vice president - U.S. operations.  "The Indianola warehouse will become our primary warehousing and distribution center for the Mid-South."

Tom Jagodinski, president and CEO, said a comprehensive analysis of certain information from the Mississippi Development Authority, Delta Council Industrial and Community Development and discussions with Governor Haley Barbour placed the focus on sites within the state.  Jagodinski said "We are very pleased to have been able to secure this site in order to consolidate our warehousing needs into a single physical location that we own.  The ability to tie it in closely with our existing facilities also presents advantages." 

D&PL has expanded its investments in the Delta region in recent years, selecting this area over other candidates throughout the Southeastern U.S.  Local facilities include:

• The Hollandale (Washington County) operations facility includes bulk seed storage along with the processing needed to move that product to market.  Investments in Hollandale recently have included high tech equipment to treat and package seed more rapidly in keeping with the company's seed-to-order strategy.  In the last several years, D&PL has invested $18.4 million at this facility. 

• Winterville's (Washington County) research and development station employs the latest technologies in order to get superior varieties and technologies on the market.  The company recently invested $1 million in order to enhance the speed and accuracy of product development at this location and has another $2 million project scheduled to commence by the end of 2006.

• D&PL's global headquarters in Scott (Bolivar County) featuring several functional areas, including some research and development as well as a number of corporate functions. 

In total, D&PL has invested $23 million in Mississippi over the last 10 years in capital expenditures.  The company employs approximately 300 full-time and 140 seasonal employees statewide. 

Delta and Pine Land Company is a commercial breeder, producer and marketer of cotton planting seed, as well as soybean seed in the Cotton Belt.  For more than 90 years, the Company has used its extensive cotton plant breeding programs drawing from a diverse germplasm base to develop improved varieties.  Delta and Pine Land (NYSE:  DLP), headquartered in Scott, Mississippi, has offices in eight states and facilities in several foreign countries.  For more information, please refer to the Company's website at www.deltaandpine.com.