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2003 yield results indicate yield potential of 2004 Asgrow and DEKALB soybean varieties
St. Louis, Missouri
March 2, 2004

With spring around the corner, soybean growers are only a few weeks away from planting their 2004 crop. For those still deciding which soybean variety to plant, the answer may be as simple as looking back at the yield results of Asgrow® and DEKALB® varieties in 2003.

According to yield data released from Monsanto, soybean growers who planted Asgrow or DEKALB soybeans in 2003 harvested higher yields than growers who planted other brands. In more than 46,800 head-to-head field comparisons, leading Asgrow and DEKALB soybean varieties averaged 1.6 bushels or $10.96* more per acre than all competitors across soybean-growing areas from Group 0 through Group V maturities. Asgrow and DEKALB varieties throughout the same geographies delivered an average of more than $8.90 per acre than Pioneer® varieties and $13.01 more than NK® varieties.*

Our initial yield results indicate that once again both the powerful performance of high-yielding genetics in Asgrow seed and the extensive lineup of built-in disease and pest protection are helping growers add significant revenues to their operations and keeping our performance a step ahead of the rest, said Dion McBay, U.S. marketing manager for Asgrow and DEKALB soybeans. An average of over $10 an acre can make a real difference in a grower s success at the end of a season. The outstanding performance in all of the maturities shows the Asgrow performance advantage.

Asgrow varieties in all maturities outyielded leading competitive varieties. Trials in Group 0 show Asgrow delivered a $10.27-per-acre advantage over the competition. In early Group II, the Asgrow performance advantage was $12.33 per acre. In both late Group III and Group V, the Asgrow performance advantage was $18.49 per acre.

Even in areas where soybean yields were challenged in 2003, Asgrow and DEKALB outperformed other brands and yielded more for the growers who chose to plant them instead of other brands. Even in the most strenuous production conditions, our beans stand out in performance compared to the competitors. Our Asgrow lineup stayed in the forefront with its high-yielding genetics and extensive disease and pest tolerance, said McBay.

For 2004 planting we launched 30 new varieties to further enhance our lineup in which growers can see the power of unmatched genetics and built-in disease and pest resistance.

In 1,457 head-to-head comparisons conducted last year, the 30 new 2004 Asgrow and DEKALB varieties outyielded Pioneer varieties by 3.5 bushels per acre. Many of the soybean varieties available for 2004 offer an extensive lineup of built-in protection systems against diseases and pests like soybean cyst nematode, Phytophthora, sudden death syndrome and brown stem rot.

While growers are planting the new 2004 varieties, Monsanto will use the summer of 2004 to showcase field trials and plots to exhibit new Asgrow and DEKALB varieties scheduled for planting in the spring of 2005.

With an extensive commitment to research and development, Monsanto continues year after year to offer growers varieties with the most profit potential, concluded McBay. For 2004, growers can look for Asgrow and DEKALB to continue to deliver industry-leading soybeans with outstanding yield potential and the most comprehensive package of risk-management traits available, and these qualities should be enhanced in the 2005 class of Asgrow and DEKALB varieties.

Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.

* Restricted comparisons to 2003 season with five or more comparisons in Group 0-V. Compared high-volume-leader varieties, Asgrow and DEKALB, to Pioneer and Northrup King varieties. Calculated weighted averages comparing Monsanto varieties to brand comparisons and maturity group brand comparisons. Performance advantages based on 2003 average price of $6.85 per bushel, as cited by the 2003 U.S.D.A. reports. Data source is all farmer strip trial data in CPA as of 12/19/2003.

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