Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Hartley Tom D
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
12/08/2008
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
MONSANTO CO /NEW/ [MON]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
800 N. LINDBERGH BLVD.
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Vice President and Treasurer
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

ST. LOUIS, MO 63167
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 2,000
D
 
Common Stock 4,322
I
By 401(k) Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Option (right to buy) 04/25/2004(1) 04/24/2013 Common Stock 11,000 $ 8.0725 D  
Option (right to buy) 03/15/2005(2) 02/26/2014 Common Stock 11,860 $ 16.1925 D  
Option (right to buy) 11/15/2005(3) 10/28/2014 Common Stock 17,900 $ 20.805 D  
Option (right to buy) 11/15/2006(4) 10/27/2015 Common Stock 9,600 $ 29.2175 D  
Option (right to buy) 11/15/2007(5) 10/25/2016 Common Stock 6,600 $ 44.06 D  
Option (right to buy) 07/15/2008(6) 07/14/2017 Common Stock 330 $ 70.06 D  
Option (right to buy) 11/15/2008(7) 10/21/2017 Common Stock 4,900 $ 87.14 D  
Option (right to buy) 11/15/2009(8) 10/19/2018 Common Stock 4,960 $ 89.45 D  
Phantom Share Units   (9)   (9) Common Stock 1,588 $ (10) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Hartley Tom D
800 N. LINDBERGH BLVD.
ST. LOUIS, MO 63167
      Vice President and Treasurer  

Signatures

Christopher A. Martin, by Power of Attorney 12/10/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) One-third of the options became exercisable on April 25, 2004, one-third of the options became exercisable on March 15, 2005 and one-third of the options became exercisable on March 15, 2006, subject to the terms and conditions of the Monsanto Company Long Term Incentive Plan.
(2) One-third of the options became exercisable on March 15, 2005, one-third of the options became exercisable on March 15, 2006 and one-third of the options became exercisable on March 15, 2007, subject to the terms and conditions of the Monsanto Company Long Term Incentive Plan.
(3) One-third of the options became exercisable on November 15, 2005, one-third of the options became exercisable on November 15, 2006 and one-third of the options became exercisable on November 15, 2007, subject to the terms and conditions of the Monsanto Company Long Term Incentive Plan.
(4) One-third of the options became exercisable on November 15, 2006, one-third of the options became exercisable on November 15, 2007 and one-third of the options became exercisable on November 15, 2008, subject to the terms and conditions of the Monsanto Company Long Term Incentive Plan.
(5) One-third of the options became exercisable on November 15, 2007, one-third of the options became exercisable on November 15, 2008 and one-third of the options become exercisable on November 15, 2009, subject to the terms and conditions of the Monsanto Company Long Term Incentive Plan.
(6) One-third of the options became exercisable on July 15, 2008, one-third of the options became exercisable on November 15, 2008 and one-third of the options become exercisable on November 15, 2009, subject to the terms and conditions of the Monsanto Company Long Term Incentive Plan.
(7) One-third of the options became exercisable on November 15, 2008, one-third of the options become exercisable on November 15, 2009 and one-third of the options become exercisable on November 15, 2010, subject to the terms and conditions of the Monsanto Company Long Term Incentive Plan.
(8) One-third of the options become exercisable on November 15, 2009, one-third of the options become exercisable on November 15, 2010 and one-third of the options become exercisable on November 15, 2011, subject to the terms and conditions of the Monsanto Company Long Term Incentive Plan.
(9) The reported phantom share units were acquired under Monsanto Company's non-qualified defined contribution plan and are to be settled upon the reporting person's retirement or other termination of service.
(10) 1 for 1

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