<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23
<SEQUENCE>8
<FILENAME>a1s2ex23b.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CONSENT OF QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT UNDERWRITER
<TEXT>

                          EXHIBIT 23.B


                  CONSENT OF QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT UNDERWRITER

                                                       January 11, 2002


Farmland Industries, Inc.:


We consent to the references to our firm under the caption "Qualified
Independent Underwriter" in the Prospectus.


                                             FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.


                                             By:      /s/ JAMES H. GLEN, JR.
                                                  --------------------------
                                             James H. Glen, Jr.
                                             Senior Vice President
                                             Corporate & Investment Banking


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>