8-K

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)   April 30, 2004

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	1-44	41-0129150
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

4666 Faries Parkway Decatur, Illinois	62526
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (217) 424-5200

Item 7.		Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits		The following exhibit is furnished herewith:
99.1		Press release dated April 30, 2004 announcing third quarter results.
Item 12.	Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On April 30, 2004, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) issued a press release announcing third quarter results. A copy of such press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

SIGNATURES

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.

ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY

Date: April 30, 2004 By /s/ David J. Smith David J. Smith Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit	Description
99.1	Press Release dated April 30, 2004

EX-99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 30, 2004

ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND REPORTS THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

Decatur, IL - April 30, 2004 - Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM)

à Third quarter earnings per share increased 94% to $0.35 as compared to $0.18 last year.

à Segment Operating Profit increased to $502 million from $242 million last year.

• Oilseeds Processing earnings strengthened in North America and Asia.
• Corn Processing results improved in all major product lines.
• Wheat Processing profits increased as volumes stabilized and margins improved.
• Agricultural Services continued its strong performance.
• Other segment operations increased as Specialty Food and Feed Ingredients, Cocoa, and private equity investments continued to improve.

à Financial Highlights

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data and percentages)

		THREE MONTHS ENDED					NINE MONTHS ENDED
		3/31/04		3/31/03	% CHANGE		3/31/04		3/31/03	% CHANGE
Net sales and other operating income	$	9,309,019	$	7,908,530	18%	$	26,465,425	$	22,659,807	17%
Segment operating profit	$	501,708	$	242,370	107%	$	1,293,394	$	779,685	66%
Net earnings	$	226,769	$	116,805	94%	$	597,771	$	356,125	68%
Earnings per share	$	.35	$	.18	94%	$	.92	$	.55	67%
Average number of shares outstanding		648,565		645,445	-		646,844		646,574	-

"The strong results this past quarter demonstrate the strength and balance of ADM's global franchise and the solid performance of our management team in a challenging business environment."

G. Allen Andreas, Chairman and Chief Executive

Archer Daniels Midland

Page 2

Discussion of Operations

Net earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 were $227 million, or $.35 per share, compared with $117 million, or $.18 per share, last year. Net earnings for the nine months ended March 31, 2004 were $598 million, or $.92 per share, compared to $356 million, or $.55 per share, last year.

Segment Operating profit increased $260 million to $502 million for the quarter and increased $513 million to $1.3 billion for the nine months as operating profit improvements were realized in all major segments. Oilseed Processing operating profits increased as earnings strengthened in North America and Asia. Lower net corn costs, combined with increased selling prices and volumes in all major corn product lines, resulted in improved operating profits of the Corn Processing segment. Wheat Processing operating profits increased as volumes stabilized and margins improved. Agricultural Services' balanced global grain origination and marketing system continued its strong performance resulting in improved operating profits. Strong demand for transportation also contributed to the earnings gain. Other segment operating profit increased as earnings of the Specialty Food and Feed Ingredients, Cocoa and private equity investments improved over prior year levels. Corporate expense increased $74 mil lion to $163 million for the quarter and increased $135 million to $417 million for the nine months due primarily to LIFO inventory valuation charges of $99 million for the quarter and $160 million for the nine months. Last year's LIFO inventory valuation charges were $4 million for the quarter and $15 million for the nine months. The increased LIFO charges were partially offset by security transaction gains and interest received on the insurance-related lawsuit pertaining to the flood of 1993.

This year's results include asset abandonment charges of $12 million ($8 million after tax, equal to $.01 per share) for the quarter and $41 million ($26 million after tax, equal to $.04 per share) for the nine months. This year's results for the quarter and nine months also include a $21 million ($13 million after tax, equal to $.02 per share) gain from an insurance-related lawsuit pertaining to the flood of 1993 and an $11 million ($7 million after tax, equal to $.01 per share) gain on securities transactions. Last year's results included a $3 million ($2 million after tax) gain for the quarter and a $28 million ($17 million after tax, equal to $.03 per share) gain for the nine months from partial settlements of the Company's claims related to vitamin antitrust litigation. Last year's quarter and nine months results also included an $11 million ($7 million after tax, equal to $.01 per share) charge related to the Company's global settlement with the EPA and a $15 million ($10 million aft er tax, equal to $.02 per share) gain related to the sale of fixed assets.

Conference Call Information

Archer Daniels Midland will hold a conference call and audio Web cast to discuss third quarter results at 10:00 a.m. Central Daylight Savings Time on April 30, 2004. To listen by phone, dial 800-305-1078 or 703-871-3026, no access code is required. Digital replay of the call will be available for seven days beginning on April 30, 2004 approximately 2 hours after the call and ending on May 7, 2004 at 11:30 p.m. CDST. To access this replay, dial 888-266-2081 or 703-925-2533 and enter access code: 640649. To listen to a live broadcast via the Internet, please access the ADM Web site at http://www.admworld.com/eng/ir/financial.asp. A replay of the Web cast will be available for 10 days on the http://www.admworld.com Web site.

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is a world leader in agricultural processing. ADM is one of the world's largest processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa. ADM is also a leader in the production of soy meal and oil, ethanol, corn sweeteners and flour. In addition, ADM produces value-added food and feed ingredients. Headquartered in Decatur, Illinois, ADM has over 26,000 employees, more than 270 processing plants and net sales for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 of $30.7 billion. Additional information can be found on ADM's Web site at http://www.admworld.com.

Contacts:
Brian Peterson Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs 217/424-5413	Dwight Grimestad Vice President, Investor Relations 217/424-4586

(Financial Tables Follow)

April 30, 2004
ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(unaudited)
			Three months ended				Nine months ended
			March 31,				March 31,
			2004		2003		2004		2003
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net sales and other operating income	$	9,309,019		$	7,908,530	$	26,465,425	$	22,659,807
Cost of products sold		8,722,000			7,494,182		24,820,358		21,334,589
		---------------			---------------		---------------		---------------
Gross profit		587,019			414,348		1,645,067		1,325,218
Selling, general and administrative expenses		251,701			231,225		749,138		693,567
Other expense (income) - net		(3,143)			29,392		19,785		133,574
		----------------			---------------		---------------		---------------
Earnings before income taxes		338,461			153,731		876,144		498,077
Income taxes		111,692			36,926		278,373		141,952
		----------------			---------------		---------------		---------------
Net earnings	$	226,769		$	116,805	$	597,771	$	356,125
		=========			=========		=========		=========
Basic and diluted earnings per common share	$	.35		$	.18	$	.92	$	.55
		=========			=========		=========		=========
Average number of shares outstanding		648,565			645,445		646,844		646,574
		=========			=========		=========		=========
Other expense (income) - net consists of:
Interest expense	$	86,856		$	93,305	$	259,849	$	273,118
Investment income		(35,775)			(29,650)		(89,524)		(92,418)
Net (gain) loss on marketable securities Transactions		(10,677)			-		(11,697)		2,704
Equity in (earnings) losses of Unconsolidated affiliates		(44,804)			(19,073)		(141,453)		(29,655)
Other - net		1,257			(15,190)		2,610		(20,175)
		----------------			---------------		---------------		---------------
	$	(3,143)		$	29,392	$	19,785	$	133,574
		=========			=========		=========		=========
Operating profit by segment is as follows:
Oilseeds Processing (1)	$	117,510		$	75,379	$	306,223	$	254,477
Corn Processing (1) (2)		160,028			88,787		382,201		244,043
Wheat Processing		9,664			6,437		59,436		45,143
Agricultural Services (1) (2)		55,827			3,526		205,011		78,598
Other (1) (3)		158,679			68,241		340,523		157,424
		----------------			---------------		---------------		---------------
Total segment operating profit		501,708			242,370		1,293,394		779,685
Corporate (1) (2) (4)		(163,247)			(88,639)		(417,250)		(281,608)
		----------------			---------------		---------------		---------------
Earnings before income taxes	$		338,461	$	153,731	$	876,144	$	498,077
		=========			=========		=========		=========

(1)Fiscal 2004 third quarter results include a charge for abandonment and write down of long lived assets of: Oilseeds Processing ($3 million), Corn Processing ($1 million), and Other ($8 million). Fiscal 2004 nine month results include a charge for abandonment and write down of long lived assets of: Oilseeds Processing ($3 million), Corn Processing ($1 million), Agricultural Services ($5 million), Other ($18 million), and Corporate ($14 million).

(2) Fiscal 2004 third quarter and nine month results include a gain from an insurance-related lawsuit of: Corn Processing ($15 million), Agricultural Services ($2 million), and Corporate ($4 million).

(3) Fiscal 2003 quarter and nine month results include partial settlements of the Company's claims related to vitamin antitrust litigation of $3 million and $28 million, respectively.

(4) Fiscal 2003 quarter and nine month results include a $11 million charge related to the Company's global settlement with the EPA and a gain of $15 million related to the sale of fixed assets.

April 30, 2004
ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND COMPANY
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(unaudited)
		March 31, 2004		June 30, 2003
		(in thousands)
NET INVESTMENT IN
Working capital	$	6,940,828	$	4,584,756
Property, plant and equipment		5,245,672		5,468,716
Investments in and advances to affiliates		1,847,762		1,763,453
Long-term marketable securities		1,095,143		818,016
Other non current assets		775,745		710,837
		-----------------------		-----------------------
	$	15,905,150	$	13,345,778
		==============		==============
FINANCED BY
Short-term debt	$	2,798,512	$	1,279,483
Long-term debt, including current maturites		3,888,615		3,903,175
Deferred liabilities		1,334,449		1,093,923
Shareholders' equity		7,883,574		7,069,197
		-----------------------		-----------------------
	$	15,905,150	$	13,345,778
		==============		==============
SUMMARY OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
		Nine Months Ended
		March 31
		2004		2003
		(in thousands)
Operating activities
Net earnings	$	597,771	$	356,125
Depreciation		513,293		471,597
Asset abandonments		40,184		-
Other		99,987		131,750
Changes in operating assets and liabilities		(2,149,876)		(614,789)
		-----------------------		-----------------------
Total Operating Activities		(898,641)		344,683
Investing Activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(365,752)		(324,484)
Net assets of businesses acquired		(53,616)		(483,519)
Other investing activities		(23,705)		(130,426)
		-----------------------		-----------------------
Total Investing Activities		(443,073)		(938,429)
Financing Activities
Long-term borrowings		2,646		517,057
Long-term debt payments		(26,731)		(34,287)
Net borrowings (payments) under lines of credit		1,510,532		610,665
Purchases of treasury stock		(4,083)		(96,780)
Cash dividends		(126,615)		(116,756)
Other		26,021		1,117
		-----------------------		-----------------------
Total Financing Activities		1,381,770		881,016
		-----------------------		-----------------------
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		40,056		287,270
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period		764,959		526,115
		-----------------------		-----------------------
Cash and cash equivalents end of period	$	805,015	$	813,385
		==============		==============