"Over the past several years, there have been major shifts in cotton production and acreage. These shifts and anticipated trends prompt us to reevaluate our business. We have found that we can better serve our farmer customers by adding to our research efforts in Texas and the Southeast while refocusing efforts in the Mid-South and Arizona," Steve M. Hawkins, president of Delta and Pine Land Company says.

Hawkins announced in August that D&PL would open new research stations in the Texas Rolling Plains and Georgia to provide breeding and testing support to these booming production areas. Today's announcement provides insight into the program leaders for those locations.

News of refocusing efforts involves two changes. In Arizona, the breeding program currently housed in Casa Grande will move its offices to the more modern station in nearby Maricopa. Research and testing will continue to be done at the Casa Grande and Maricopa sites. In the Mid-South, the program at Stuttgart, AR will move to the company's headquarters in Scott, MS as the Stuttgart facility is closed. One of the current cotton breeders from Stuttgart will now head our program in progress in Leland, MS.

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 80 years, the Mississippi-based company has used its extensive plant breeding programs drawing from a diverse germplasm base to develop superior varieties. Delta and Pine Land has offices in seven states and facilities in several foreign countries.

Company news release
N2386