-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MkVo5qSzM3tfCdDW37tz7sS23MTGa2TymKnB7NwuF/D/F9AbvBbsI/x/odgZx5q3
 WfIjlJ3qVLLi7AacoXnDJw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000007084-04-000468.txt : 20041115
<SEC-HEADER>0000007084-04-000468.hdr.sgml : 20041115
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041115150639
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000007084-04-000468
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041115
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041115

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ONEILL THOMAS F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001251848

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00044
		FILM NUMBER:		041144528

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O HARMON & CRAVEN LLP
		STREET 2:		488 MADISON AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000007084
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FATS & OILS [2070]
		IRS NUMBER:				410129150
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4666 FARIES PKWY
		CITY:			DECATUR
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62526
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2174244798

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4666 FARIES PKWY
		CITY:			DECATUR
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62526
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-04</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000007084</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251848</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ONEILL THOMAS F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4666 FARIES PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DECATUR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>62526</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No securities beneficially owned</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stuart E. Funderburg, Attorney-in-fact for Thomas F. O'Neill</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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