Des Moines, Iowa
October 17,  2001

Growers throughout the United States buying seed from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., or buying DuPont Crop Protection products can qualify to finance these purchases with competitive
interest rates through an enhanced TruChoice(R) Opportunity Program. Producers may also qualify to finance a broad number of additional herbicides and insecticides, as well as take advantage of a new weed control performance program. 

Growers meeting Pioneer(R) brand seed purchase and qualifying corn crop protection purchase requirements can finance both at 2.5 percent below the prime interest rate. In addition, these customers qualify for the Performance Plus weed control program that supports the qualified herbicide programs. 

Those meeting Pioneer seed purchase or qualifying corn crop protection purchase requirements can finance their purchases at 1.0 percent below the prime interest rate. These growers also qualify for the Performance Plus weed control program. 

"The first choice a grower makes is plant genetics and Pioneer offers its customers the broadest range of high-yielding hybrids and varieties in the industry for the greatest value per acre," says Bill Fleet, regional director, North American Sales, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. "After making these decisions, growers decide on financing and crop protection programs. The TruChoice Opportunity Program not only offers growers more favorable financing, but it also provides them with choices and options that best fit their individual needs. 

"Being able to finance these purchases at low rates -- with these choices and additional discount options -- is a real advantage over financing programs offered by most other companies." 

Crop protection products included in the corn herbicide qualifying list are Accent Gold(1), Accent(1), Basis Gold(1), Basis(1), Leadoff(1), Steadfast(1), Dual(2), Bicep(2), Liberty(3) and Liberty(3) ATZ. 

Additional crop protection products are also available for financing in the TruChoice program once corn treatment requirements are met, including an expansion of the products offered in last year's program. These new products are Hornet(4) WDG and Callisto(2) herbicides and Lorsban(4) 15G, Aztec(5) 2.1G and Capture(6) 2EC insecticides. 

The Performance Plus weed control program is a new addition to the TruChoice program this year. If qualifying growers use a recommended herbicide program and that program fails to control weed species as described in the label, they will be eligible for reimbursement for the cost of an authorized re-spray program. See your local Pioneer sales professional or DuPont Crop Protection retailer for details. 

Additional financing choices are also available for Pioneer seed customers. Information on these programs is available from your local Pioneer sales professional. 

In most North American regions, Pioneer also offers an Early Pay Savings discount for purchases made by selected dates and a Quantity Savings program, based on total dollars spent on Pioneer brand products. Local Pioneer sales professionals will be able to provide details. 

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, delivering science-based solutions in food and nutrition, health care, apparel, home and construction, electronics and transportation that make a difference in people's lives. 
For additional company or product information, check the Pioneer World Wide Web site: http://www.pioneer.com  

(1) Trademarks and service marks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company 
(2) Trademarks of Syngenta Group Company
(3) Trademark of the Aventis Group
(4) Trademark of Dow AgroSciences
(5) Trademark of Bayer Corporation
(6) Trademark of FMC

Company news release
N3886