Memphis, Tennessee
September 6, 2002

Stoneville Pedigreed Seed Company is pleased to announce additions to its senior management team in a move that will strengthen the company's ability to compete and grow its business in the field of cotton planting seed varieties.

Matt Renkoski has recently been hired to the new position of Vice President-International Business. Renkoski, with 20 plus years of experience with DuPont, was recently Managing Director of DuPont's Protein Technologies International, the biotech food ingredients business aligned with the seeds business of Pioneer Hi-Bred International. With an MS in Agronomy/ Plant Breeding, Renkoski previously spent five years responsible for DuPont's southern region, focused heavily on its cotton product line. In his new role, he is responsible for all aspects of business development and business operations in Stoneville's priority markets outside of the U.S.

Don Threet has been promoted to the new position of Vice President-U.S. Business Operations. Threet, a 12-year veteran of Stoneville, has most recently served as National Sales Manager responsible for all U.S. sales. He has been an integral part of the team responsible for bringing multiple transgenic cottonseed products to U.S. cotton growers and increasing Stoneville's share, sales and profitability. Threet will coordinate and manage all operational aspects of the U.S. business including seed production, sales and marketing; balancing supply and demand; and U.S. business profitability.

Danny Rogers has been promoted to Director-U.S. Sales & Marketing, heading up all domestic sales and marketing. Rogers, with a Crop Science PhD from North Carolina State University, joined Stoneville three years ago as National Marketing Manager from Valent USA Corporation. He will oversee all aspects of sales and marketing for the Stoneville product line, which today offers the widest offering of transgenic trait combinations available anywhere in the world. Rogers succeeds Gary Starwalt, who has announced his retirement from the company, effective at the end of this year.

Art Simpson has been promoted to Director of U.S. Plant Operations. Simpson, responsible for all domestic seed processing facilities, holds a PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Purdue University. With an extensive agricultural background in soybean and cotton research, farming, and former CEO of a large farmer cooperative in Marked Tree, Arkansas, Simpson is uniquely qualified to improve processing operations with a focus on the grower/customer needs. At Stoneville, Simpson currently oversees multiple seed processing, warehousing and seed distribution facilities located across the U.S. cotton belt.

Sandi Eitel has been named Director of Human Resources for Stoneville. Eitel joined Stoneville two years ago from FedEx Corporation to help Stoneville establish itself as an independent company, after being sold by Monsanto, bringing all employee support services in-house. She is responsible for oversight of all employee services such as compensation, benefits, and employment policies.

Thomas F. "Bud" Hughes, Stoneville's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "These changes represent another strong commitment to our future in the cottonseed business. Our mission, to be a leading supplier of improved cotton genetics with value-added traits from biotechnology, continues to improve and be fulfilled on an annual basis. This is an exciting time for Stoneville and I am very pleased to have such a high-caliber team beside me as we drive Stoneville to meet the challenges ahead."

Rich in cotton heritage, Stoneville Pedigreed Seed Co. is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, with research & development sites, and seed production facilities located across the United States and internationally. Breeding cotton since 1922, the company provides conventional and transgenic varieties that cotton growers need today to compete in the global cotton economy. For more information, go to www.stoneville.com