Vision. It is something that enables great innovation.  In cotton and
agriculture as a whole, Delta and Pine Land Company has, from its founding,
been distinguished by vision and leadership.  Since the early 1900s, vision
and the work needed to achieve that vision have enabled D&PL to contribute
significantly to the lives and work of cotton farmers in the Delta and
throughout the Cotton Belt.
One of the earliest examples of this far-reaching vision was the creation of
a breeding program in 1915.
"While the company was essentially a farming operation in the early 1900s,
our leadership saw the inherent value of developing better cotton varieties
through classical plant breeding," says Steve M. Hawkins, D&PL president.
"Early Ewing and others led the development of smoothleaf cotton, which
contributed to improved fiber quality.  Over the years, the research
programs here have made breakthroughs in yield, maturity, disease
resistance, other fiber quality traits; the list is endless.  Those
characteristics are what have led farmers to buy our products."
While research was making improvements in varieties a reality, the company
also looked to improve production practices.
"Delta and Pine Land was such a significant farming entity that it was the
site for many firsts," Hawkins says.  "We helped test and introduce some of
the first machinery-such as planters and pickers ‹ for cotton production.
This close relationship to the equipment companies continues today as we
work with them on enhancements and new practices impacting farm machinery.
We worked with aerial applicators early on to fight heavy pest pressure."
As the company matured, it became clear that the political and business
environments in both the area, and the industry at large, held great
potential for D&PL.  Looking to encourage adequate representation for cotton
and favorable policies for the Delta, Oscar Johnston and fellow D&PL leaders
worked with others to form the National Cotton Council and the Delta
Council.
"The 1920s and 30s provided such enormous challenges for Delta and Pine Land
and others in our area and industry.  It was a time in which great
leadership was needed to find ways to meet those challenges," says Murray
Robinson, D&PL chief executive officer.  "We are proud that our company was
part of the solution then and we continue to place a good deal of importance
on our role as an advocate for cotton and the Delta."
Vision continues to be a major factor in Delta and Pine Land's plan as the
company heads toward the future.
"In the 1970s, when a group of investors led by Roger Malkin purchased D&PL,
the company shifted from production agriculture to a varietal research and
sales and marketing business.  In the years since, we have become one of the
world's leading seed companies with our strong research programs, customer
focus and interest in innovation.  Roger was an early proponent of biotech,
and it was his vision that led us to introduce Bt cotton, the most
successful launch of a new agricultural product in history.  We want to
insure we build on that success as we move forward," says Robinson.  "As we
enter the 21st Century, we have recommitted ourselves to that goal."
Hawkins explains, "In the past year, we have started research programs in
Georgia and the Texas Rolling Plains because those areas have grown in
acreage and complexity.  Our conventional breeding stations provide a strong
foundation for so much of what we do.  On top of this, we recently have
added transgenic capabilities.  D&PL already working on the next frontier
with genetic mapping and marker-assisted selection.  The field of genomics
holds promise in breeding for yield, disease resistance, fiber quality and
other traits.
"We've also continued working very closely with growers so we can be a part
of their trusted decision circle," Hawkins adds.  "We want to work with
farmers to find innovative ways to produce better cotton crops.  The amount
of data we have and the information we can generate from that seems
boundless.  There are critical needs for credible, helpful information to
aid in selecting and managing varieties and we continue building systems to
help supply growers with that information."
With the breakthroughs in science and agriculture specifically, the business
at D&PL has certainly changed over the years, but the role of visionary
leadership remains a constant.  DBJ