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                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 15

     CERTIFICATION AND NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION
   12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 OR SUSPENSION OF DUTY TO FILE
  REPORTS UNDER SECTIONS 13 AND 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

                                                   Commission File Number 0-7908

                       PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          800 CAPITAL SQUARE, 400 LOCUST STREET, DES MOINES, IOWA 50309
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                  of registrant's principal executive offices)

        COMMON STOCK, $1.00 PAR VALUE AND 5 3/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 1/15/09
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Title of each class of securities covered by this Form)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Titles of all other classes of securities for which a duty to file reports
                      under section 13(a) or 15(d) remains)

      Please place an X in the box(es) to designate the appropriate rule
provision(s) relied upon to terminate or suspend the duty to file reports:

            Rule 12g-4(a)(1)(i)  |X|          Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(i)  |_|
            Rule 12g-4(a)(1)(ii) |_|          Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(ii) |_|
            Rule 12g-4(a)(2)(i)  |_|          Rule 12h-3(b)(2)(i)  |_|
            Rule 12g-4(a)(2)(ii) |_|          Rule 12h-3(b)(2)(ii) |_|
                                              Rule 15d-6           |_|

      Approximate number of holders of record as of the certification or notice
date:   COMMON    -  0
      NOTEHOLDERS - 20

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (NAME
OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER) has caused this certification/notice to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized person.


Date: OCTOBER 18, 1999     By: /s/ Leon R. Shearer
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               LEON R. SHEARER, VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL COUNSEL

Instruction: This form is required by Rules 12g-4, 12h-3 and 15d-6 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The
registrant shall file with the Commission three copies of Form 15, one of which
shall be manually signed. It may be signed by an officer of the registrant, by
counsel or by any other duly authorized person. The name and title of the person
signing the form shall be typed or printed under the signature.

                        POTENTIAL PERSONS WHO ARE TO RESPOND TO THE COLLECTION
                        OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM ARE NOT REQUIRED
SEC 2069 (S-99)         TO RESPOND UNLESS THE FORM DISPLAYS A CURRENTLY VALID
                        OMB CONTROL NUMBER.