Delta and Pine Land Company (NYSE: DLP) announced today the preliminary results of its modified “Dutch auction” tender offer, which expired at 12:00 Midnight, New York City time, Tuesday, May 17, 2005.

A preliminary count as of 12:00 Midnight, New York City time on May 17, 2005 by Illinois Stock Transfer Company, the depositary for the tender offer, indicates that approximately 2,056,534 shares of common stock were properly tendered and not withdrawn at a price at or below $26.75 per share.

Under the terms of the tender offer, the Company had offered to purchase shares of its common stock at the lowest price within the price range of $25.00 to $28.75 per share that would allow it to purchase up to 1,739,130 shares, or such greater number of shares that the Company elected to purchase, subject to applicable law.  Based on preliminary calculations, the Company expects to purchase 1,869,159 shares at a price of $26.75 per share by exercising its right to purchase additional shares without extending the tender offer in accordance with applicable securities laws.  Because the number of shares tendered at the expected purchase price exceeds the number of shares that the Company expects to accept for purchase, the preliminary proration factor for the tender offer is 90.9%.  For this purpose, shares tendered at or below $26.75 per share will include shares tendered by persons who indicated that they are willing to accept the price determined in the offer.  All shares purchased in the tender offer will receive the same price.

The determination of the final purchase price and the final proration factor is subject to confirmation by the depositary of the proper delivery of the shares validly tendered and not withdrawn.  The actual purchase price and the final proration factor will be announced promptly following completion of the confirmation process.  Payment for the shares accepted for purchase, and return of all other shares tendered and not accepted for purchase, will occur promptly thereafter.

The dealer manager for the tender offer is UBS Securities LLC and the information agent is Georgeson Shareholder Communications, Inc.  For questions and information about the tender offer, please call the information agent toll free at (800) 561-4184.

Delta and Pine Land Company is a leading commercial breeder, producer and marketer of cotton planting seed. Headquartered in Scott, Mississippi, with multiple offices in eight states and facilities in several foreign countries, D&PL also breeds, produces and markets soybean planting seed in the U.S.