San Antonio, Texas
March 24, 2003

Local farm supply cooperatives are the key to the success of the cooperative system, according to Land O'Lakes Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Duane Halverson. Speaking to members of the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council (TACC), he said that Land O'Lakes intends to earn their business.

"The strength of the cooperative system begins with the relationship between farmers, ranchers and
local cooperatives," Halverson said on March 18, during the 2003 TACC Joint Cooperative Meeting in
San Antonio, Texas. "Land O'Lakes role is to help local cooperatives and producers be successful. We like it that way and we intend to prove we mean it."

Halverson also commented on the strength of TACC within Texas. "You have a very strong and powerful cooperative system in Texas," he said. "We are proud to work with you."

Halverson said national cooperatives such as Land O'Lakes must earn local cooperatives' business commenting that, "It would be a mistake to assume local cooperative customers will automatically purchase feed, seed or agronomic services and supplies from Land O'Lakes." Land O'Lakes he added will earn their business through a commitment to performance and by working with local co-ops to build a successful system.

Land O'Lakes has worked to build the size and scale needed to deliver value to local cooperatives within its corporate businesses. The company purchased Purina Mills in 2001, making it the largest feed producer in North America. With the size and strength of two national brands, Halverson said he hopes to continue to grow feed sales in Texas, which is already the second largest state in the country in feed volume for Land O'Lakes.

In addition to discussing Land O'Lakes Farmland Feed, LLC, Halverson invited TACC members to explore opportunities with Croplan Genetics, the company's Seed Division, and Agriliance, its agronomy joint venture. He said Croplan Genetics and Agriliance's size and scale offer local cooperatives exceptional business partnerships.

Croplan Genetics has become the fourth largest seed company in the United States and Agriliance is the leading crop inputs marketing organization in the nation largely because of the strength and commitment of the local cooperative distribution system, Halverson said.

Halverson also thanked the TACC members for their support and told them Land O'Lakes will be aggressive in showing them just how much the company wants to work with them and for them.

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is a national, farmer-owned food and agricultural cooperative, with sales of $6 billion. Land O'Lakes does business in all 50 states and more than 50 countries. It is a leading marketer of a full line of dairy-based consumer, foodservice and food ingredient products across the U.S.; serves its international customers with a variety of food and animal feed ingredients; and provides farmers, local cooperatives, and customers with an extensive line of agricultural supplies (feed, seed, crop nutrient and crop protection products) and services.