The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW - news) and Cargill announced today that Dow's wholly owned subsidiary, Mycogen Seeds, will acquire the assets of Cargill Hybrid Seeds from Cargill Incorporated. Dow will integrate these assets with Mycogen Seeds, which is affiliated with Dow's wholly owned subsidiary, Dow AgroSciences LLC. The result will be a larger and more efficient platform from which to launch biotechnology products.

The purchase will include all seed research, production and distribution assets of Cargill Hybrid
Seeds in the U.S. and Canada, except Cargill's InterMountain Canola, Goertzen Seed Research
and the Western Canadian seed distribution business.

Cargill Hybrid Seeds develops and sells corn, soybean, sunflower, alfalfa and sorghum seed in the U.S. and Canada. Mycogen develops and sells corn, soybean, alfalfa, sunflower, canola and
sorghum seed in the U.S. and Canada. The additional seed operations will make this new seed
platform the third- largest U.S. seed corn producer. It is expected the sale will close by October
31, 2000. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"This agreement is consistent with the objective to selectively expand Mycogen's retail seed
presence in support of our plans to market insect resistance traits and other biotechnology
products,'' said Pete Siggelko, global leader, Plant Genetics & Biotechnology, Dow
AgroSciences. "This move complements Dow AgroSciences' goal of value growth through
mergers, acquisitions and alliances, as well as our new product development efforts.

"Both Cargill Hybrid Seeds and Mycogen Seeds bring outstanding people, germplasm,
operations and research capabilities to this new seeds organization. There will be an analysis to
determine the best mix needed to produce an effective seed platform for delivering new products
to market more quickly and profitably,'' he explained.

Siggelko said the agreement would not affect the sales, service or distribution of seed products
from Cargill Hybrid Seeds and Mycogen Seeds during the 2001 growing season.

"We're very pleased to have found a good home for Cargill Hybrid Seeds -- one that leverages
Dow AgroSciences' broad range of biotechnology and crop protection capabilities with our strong
seed product and distribution network,'' said Cargill Executive Vice President, Fritz Corrigan.

The Dow Chemical Company, based in Midland, Mich., is a leading science and technology
company that provides innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. Mycogen Seeds is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company and is an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, is a global leader in providing pest management
and biotechnology products that improve the quality and quantity of the earth's food supply and
contribute to the safety, health and quality of life of the world's growing population. Dow
AgroSciences has approximately 6,000 people in over 50 countries dedicated to its business, and
has worldwide sales of more than $2 billion. Dow AgroSciences is a wholly owned subsidiary of
The Dow Chemical Company.

Cargill is an international marketer, processor and distributor of agricultural, food, financial and
industrial products with 85,000 employees in 60 countries. The company provides distinctive
customer solutions in supply chain management, food applications and health and nutrition. 

Company news release
N2999