Today, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. officially opened a new seed production facility in Woodhull, Ill. The plant will be used to produce Pioneer® brand soybean seed. It is located next to the already existing corn production facility, which was built in 1986. Both plants are situated on 75 acres of land at the intersection of Interstate 74 and Highway 17 in Henry County, Ill.

The $8.5 million operation, which was completed in September, is expected to produce two million 50-pound bags of soybean seed in its first year. Pioneer has contracted 27,000 acres of soybeans across several counties and plans to add 23,000 acres next year.

"Demand for Pioneer brand soybeans has been growing at an incredible rate,'' said Chuck Young,
Woodhull plant manager. "The Woodhull plant is an example of our efforts to deliver a broad line-up of top-performing, high-quality seed to Pioneer customers. We're doing what it takes to stay ahead of the demand for soybean genetics available from Pioneer.''

The soybean production facility compliments the already existing corn production facility on the
property, which produces nearly a million bags of corn annually, including 350,000 bags of reworked corn. Corn that is not sold the year previously is subjected to rigorous quality checks, reworked, repackaged and tagged for sale.

Both facilities combined employ 35 full-time, 6 part-time and 20 to 150 seasonal workers.

Pioneer is the leading soybean seed brand in North America and has been for nine years. The
estimated North American market share for Pioneer brand soybeans has grown to nearly 19 percent in 1999 from 13.5% in 1990.

The Woodhull facility is only one example of the commitment Pioneer has made to soybean growers across the Midwest. Last year, Pioneer opened a new $8 million soybean operation in Cherokee, Iowa. The company also made extensive upgrades and expansions at several plant locations across the central U.S. in 1998. Other commercial Pioneer soybean seed facilities serving Illinois include Litchfield, which just expanded in 1999, and LeRoy, which was expanded in 1996. Construction of a new soybean production plant in McLeansboro begins this fall. A parent seed production plant is located in Shelbyville, and three Pioneer research centers are strategically positioned throughout the state.

"Woodhull is a perfect location for a new soybean plant,'' said Young. "Pioneer chose the site for
several reasons. First, and most importantly, we wanted to ensure a reliable supply of Group II
through Group IV soybeans to Pioneer customers across this central region. Our production area and distribution network are a natural fit, and we can capitalize on the synergy of having an existing corn facility and new soybean facility on the same site.''

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., is the world's leading supplier of agricultural genetics and is the leading developer and integrator of agricultural technology. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer develops, produces and markets a full line of seeds, forage and grain additives and services to grain and livestock producers, grain processors and other customers worldwide.

Company news release
N2115