Pioneer Hi-Bred Donates $100,000 to Montana State University to Help Boost Ag Productivity

Funding Provides Support for Animal Science Education, Outreach Facility

DES MOINES, Iowa, July 23, 2008 — Dupont business Pioneer Hi-Bred today announced a $100,000 donation to Montana State University (MSU) to assist their efforts to increase the amount of meat that can be sustainably produced from each bushel of grain.

Forty-two percent of corn in the United States is used for animal feed. Another 17 percent of corn produced in the U.S. is exported for animal feed, and 10 percent of ehtanol production is dried distillers grains (DDGs), which are also used for animal feed.

"Pioneer is committed to helping its customers get the most out of each bushel of grain - whether it's for food, feed, fuel or materials," said William S. Niebur, Dupont vice president, Crop Genetics Research and Development. "We're proud to help support Montana State University's efforts to increase the productivity and efficiency of the livestock industry."

Support from Pioneer, secured by Pioneer brand distributors Steve Church and Mark turner of Benchmark Seeds Inc., will help fund a state-of-the-art animal science education and outreach facility. The proposed Animal Bioscience Complex is a combination of a USDA Agricultural Research Service building and an MSU teaching facility that will house the Department of Animal and Range Sciences. It will include specialized classrooms and research labs for range science, animal genetics and animal physiology. Construction of the 40,500 square foot Animal Bioscience Building is expected to begin this summer.

"We are truly grateful for Pioneer Hi-Bred's generosity and support of this new facility in helping to educate the next generation of ag producers and researchers," said Jeff Jacobsen, Dean of the College of Agriculture. "Through this facility, programs will increase competitiveness and profitability of agriculture, especially the range-livestock industry, and prepare the agriculture community for the 21st century."

The donation will be paid in two parts; $50,000 now and the other $50,000 in 2009.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics in nearly 70 countries.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.