DERIVATIVES FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Notional Amonts (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2012 bu
Corn, in Bushels [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	22,810,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	4,985,000
Corn, in Bushels [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	7,250,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	2,245,000
Corn, in Bushels [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	56,230,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	26,705,000
Lean Hogs, in Pounds [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Mass	334,320,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Mass	400,000
Lean Hogs, in Pounds [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Mass	221,680,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Mass	0
Lean Hogs, in Pounds [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Mass	960,360,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Mass	271,000,000
Live Cattle, in Pounds [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Mass	120,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Mass	0
Wheat, in Bushels [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	1,820,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	0
Soybeans, in Bushels [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	775,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	210,000
Soybean Meal, in Tons [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Mass	249,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Mass	0
Soybean Meal, in Tons [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Mass	877,722
Minimum Notional Volumes, Mass	223,700
Natural Gas [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	11,260,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	1,750,000
Heating Oil [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	1,008,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	0
Crude Oil [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Other Units	53,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Other Units	0
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Monetary	200,000,000
Minimum Notional Volumes, Monetary	0
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Monetary	140,191,820
Minimum Notional Volumes, Monetary	29,400,715
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maximum Notional Volumes, Monetary	60,895,614
Minimum Notional Volumes, Monetary	20,634,871