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

                        ---------------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 23, 2003

                                MONSANTO COMPANY
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

        Delaware                     001-16167                  43-1878297
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(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)          (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)                                       Identification No.)

                          800 North Lindbergh Boulevard
                            St. Louis, Missouri 63167
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               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (314) 694-1000






ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

(c)      Exhibits

99.1     Press Release, dated July 23, 2003, issued by Monsanto Company,
         announcing the Company's new fiscal year end

99.2     Amended and Restated By-Laws of Monsanto Company, effective
         July 22, 2003


ITEM 8.  CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR

     On July 22, 2003, the Board of Directors of Monsanto Company  authorized an
amendment to the Company's  Amended and Restated  By-Laws changing the Company's
fiscal  year  end from  December  31 to  August  31.  The  Company  will  file a
transition  report on Form 10-K for the eight-month  period ending on August 31,
2003, with the Securities and Exchange  Commission in accordance with the filing
requirements for such report.

     A press release dated July 23, 2003, issued by Monsanto Company, announcing
the fiscal year end change,  and a copy of the Amended and  Restated  By-Laws of
Monsanto Company  effective July 22, 2003 are attached to this report as Exhibit
99.1 and Exhibit 99.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.


                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  July 23, 2003
                                MONSANTO COMPANY



                                By:      /s/ Michael L. DeCamp
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                   Name:  Michael L. DeCamp
                                          Assistant Secretary

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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Number         Description
-------        -----------

99.1           Press Release, dated July 23, 2003, issued by Monsanto Company,
               announcing the Company's new fiscal year end

99.2           Amended and Restated By-Laws of Monsanto Company, effective
               July 22, 2003


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