UNITED STATES
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C. 20549
                                     
                                 FORM 10-Q

(X)  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

     For the quarterly period ended April 3, 1999

     OR

( )  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

     For the transition period from _________________to_________________

     Commission File Number 0-3400


                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                 Delaware                          71-0225165
     (State or other jurisdiction of  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
      incorporation or organization)

         2210 West Oaklawn Drive, Springdale, Arkansas 72762-6999
           (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

                              (501) 290-4000
           (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period
that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

          Yes   X         No
               ---            ---

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes
of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class                                        Outstanding April 3, 1999
- ------------------------------------         -------------------------
Class A Common Stock, $.10 Par Value           127,701,326 Shares
Class B Common Stock, $.10 Par Value           102,645,423 Shares








                                  Page 1

                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
                                   INDEX

                                                                      PAGE
                                                                      ----
PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     Item 1.  Financial Statements

          Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
          April 3, 1999 and October 3, 1998                              3

          Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
          for the Three Months and Six Months Ended
          April 3, 1999 and March 28, 1998                               4

          Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
          for the Six Months Ended
          April 3, 1999 and March 28, 1998                               5

          Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements         6-9

     Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
              Condition and Results of Operations                     9-14

     Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About
              Market Risks                                           14-16

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

     Item 1.  Legal Proceedings                                         16

     Item 2.  Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds                 16

     Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities                           16

     Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders       17

     Item 5.  Other Information                                         17

     Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                       17-18

     SIGNATURES                                                         19















                                     2

                       PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements
                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
                   CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                  (In millions except per share amounts)
                                               (Unaudited)
                                                 April 3,     October 3,
ASSETS                                             1999          1998
ASSETS                                           ________     _________
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                      $   48.1     $   46.5
  Accounts receivable                               634.9        631.0
  Inventories                                     1,055.5        984.1
  Assets held for sale                                4.8         65.2
  Other current assets                               38.0         38.3
                                                  _______      _______
Total Current Assets                              1,781.3      1,765.1
Net Property, Plant, and Equipment                2,299.5      2,256.5
Excess of Investments over Net Assets Acquired    1,036.4      1,035.8
Investments and Other Assets                        215.5        185.1
                                                 ________     ________
Total Assets                                     $5,332.7     $5,242.5
                                                 ========     ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
  Notes payable                                  $   67.6     $   84.7
  Current portion of long-term debt                 223.6         77.6
  Trade accounts payable                            377.3        330.6
  Other accrued liabilities                         460.3        338.1
                                                  _______      _______
Total Current Liabilities                         1,128.8        831.0
Long-Term Debt                                    1,724.3      1,966.6
Deferred Income Taxes                               362.5        434.4
Other Liabilities                                    50.7         40.1
Shareholders' Equity:
  Common stock ($.10 par value):
   Class A-Authorized 900 million shares;
     issued 137.9 million shares at
     4-3-99 and 10-3-98                              13.8         13.8
   Class B-Authorized 900 million shares;
     issued 102.7 million shares at
     4-3-99 and 10-3-98                              10.3         10.3
  Capital in excess of par value                    740.5        740.5
  Retained earnings                               1,503.6      1,394.2
  Other accumulated comprehensive income             (1.8)        (1.0)
                                                  _______      _______
                                                  2,266.4      2,157.8
  Less treasury stock, at cost-
    10.3 million shares at 4-3-99 and
    9.7 million shares at 10-3-98                   197.8        185.1
  Less unamortized deferred compensation              2.2          2.3
                                                 ________     ________
Total Shareholders' Equity                        2,066.4      1,970.4
                                                 ________     ________
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity       $5,332.7     $5,242.5
                                                 ========     ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
                                     
                                     3

                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
                CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                    (In millions except per share data)
                                (Unaudited)
                                     
                                 Three Months Ended      Six Months Ended
                                 __________________      ________________

                                 April 3,   March 28,   April 3,  March 28,
                                   1999       1998        1999      1998
                                 ________   ________    _______   ________

Sales                           $1,841.3    $1,870.8   $3,666.0   $3,391.6
Cost of Sales                    1,519.1     1,602.0    3,038.5    2,862.1
                                 -------     -------    -------    -------
Gross Profit                       322.2       268.8      627.5      529.5
Expenses:
  Selling                          146.0       155.2      291.7      280.8
  General and administrative        33.1        33.6       65.7       64.9
  Amortization                       8.9         8.3       17.5       14.2
                                 -------     -------    -------    -------
Operating Income                   134.2        71.7      252.6      169.6
Other Expense (Income):
  Interest                          31.9        38.0       63.2       65.2
  Foreign currency exchange         (2.3)                  (4.0)
  Other                              0.1        (3.2)      (2.7)      (3.8)
                                  -------    -------    -------    -------
Income Before Taxes on Income      104.5        36.9      196.1      108.2
Provision for Income Taxes          37.0        13.6       69.8       40.0
Minority Interest                    2.9                    5.9
                                  -------    -------    -------    -------
Net Income                      $   64.6    $   23.3   $  120.4   $   68.2
                                  =======    =======    =======    =======
Basic Average Shares Outstanding    230.5      231.5      230.6      222.4
                                    =====      =====      =====      =====
Basic Earnings Per Share            $0.28      $0.10      $0.52      $0.31
                                    =====      =====      =====      =====
Diluted Average Shares Outstanding  231.6      232.4      231.9      223.4
                                    =====      =====      =====      =====
Diluted Earnings Per Share          $0.28      $0.10      $0.52      $0.31
                                    =====      =====      =====      =====
Cash Dividends Per Share:

  Class A                         $0.0250    $0.0250    $0.0500    $0.0500
  Class B                         $0.0225    $0.0225    $0.0450    $0.0450











The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
                                     
                                     4

                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
              CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                               (In millions)
                                (Unaudited)
                                                      Six Months Ended
                                                      ________________

                                                   April 3,      March 28,
                                                     1999          1998
                                                   _______       ________
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
  Net income                                         $120.4        $68.2
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash
   provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation                                      126.0        114.0
    Amortization                                       17.5         14.2
    Foreign currency exchange                          (4.0)         -
    Deferred income taxes                             (71.9)       (23.9)
    Gain on dispositions of assets                                   -(4.0)
    Decrease(increase) in accounts receivable          10.7        (48.3)
    Increase in inventories                           (71.4)       (56.2)
    Increase in trade accounts payable                 46.7          1.6
    Net change in other current assets
       and liabilities                                116.6         88.9
                                                      _____       ______
Cash Provided by Operating Activities                 290.6        154.5
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
  Net cash paid for acquisitions                        -         (257.4)
  Additions to property, plant and equipment         (179.2)      (150.5)
  Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment  54.6         12.1
  Net change in other assets and liabilities          (23.3)       (23.1)
                                                      _____       ______
Cash Used for Investing Activities                   (147.9)      (418.9)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
  Net change in notes payable                         (17.1)       (66.0)
  Proceeds from long-term debt                         73.5        780.2
  Repayments of long-term debt                       (169.8)      (419.6)
  Purchases of treasury shares                        (14.1)        (9.8)
  Other                                                (6.3)        (9.4)
                                                      _____       ______
Cash (Used for) Provided by Financing Activities     (133.8)       275.4
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash                 (7.3)        (0.2)
                                                      _____       ______
Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents                   1.6         10.8
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period       46.5         23.6
                                                     ______       ______
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period            $48.1        $34.4
                                                     ======       ======
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
  Cash paid during the period for:
    Interest                                          $64.5        $67.2
    Income taxes                                      $60.5        $26.8




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
                                     
                                     5

                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                (Unaudited)


1.   Accounting Policies

The consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared by Tyson
Foods,  Inc.  (the  "Company"), without audit, pursuant to  the  rules  and
regulations  of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information
and  accounting  policies  and footnote disclosures  normally  included  in
financial  statements  prepared  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted
accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules
and  regulations. Although the management of the Company believes that  the
disclosures  are adequate to make the information presented not misleading,
these  consolidated  condensed  financial  statements  should  be  read  in
conjunction  with the consolidated financial statements and  notes  thereto
included  in the Company's latest annual report for the fiscal  year  ended
October  3,  1998.  The  preparation  of consolidated  condensed  financial
statements  requires management to make estimates and  assumptions.   These
estimates  and  assumptions  affect the  reported  amounts  of  assets  and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of  the  consolidated  financial statements and  the  reported  amounts  of
revenues  and  expenses during the reporting period. Actual  results  could
differ  from  those  estimates. In the opinion of  the  management  of  the
Company,  the  accompanying  consolidated  condensed  financial  statements
contain  all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals necessary
to  present   fairly  the financial position  as  of  April  3,  1999   and
October 3, 1998 and the results of operations for the three months and  six
months  ended April 3, 1999 and March 28, 1998 and cash flows for  the  six
months  ended  April 3, 1999 and March 28, 1998. The results of  operations
for the three months and six months ended and cash flows for the six months
ended  April  3, 1999 and March 28, 1998 are not necessarily indicative  of
the results to be expected for the full year.

Effective  for  fiscal  1999, the Company adopted  Statement  of  Financial
Accounting  Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income"  (SFAS  No.
130).   The provisions of SFAS No. 130 require companies to classify  items
of  comprehensive  income  by their nature in  a  financial  statement  and
display  the  accumulated balance of other comprehensive income  separately
from  retained  earnings  and  capital  in  excess  of  par  value  in  the
consolidated  financial  statements.  The  only  difference  between  total
comprehensive income and net income reported on the Consolidated  Condensed
Statements  of Income arises from foreign currency translation  adjustment.
The  Company's total comprehensive income for the three months ended  April
3,   1999  and  March  28,  1998  was  $66.4  million  and  $22.9  million,
respectively.  The Company's total comprehensive income for the six  months
ended  April  3,  1999  and  March 28, 1998 was $121.2  million  and  $67.8
million, respectively.

Statement  of  Financial Accounting Standards No. 131,  "Disclosures  about
Segments  of an Enterprise and Related Information" (SFAS No. 131) requires
public business enterprises to report financial and descriptive information
about  its reportable segments. SFAS No. 131 is effective for fiscal  1999,
but need not be applied to interim financial statements in the initial year
of  adoption.   The  Company  recently  announced  a   new   organizational
structure  which  will realign the Company into groups designed around  the

                                     6

marketplace  and  the  Company's customers and consumers.  The  groups  are
Foodservice  Group,  Consumer  Products Group,  Prepared  Foods  Group  and
International   Group.   Management  is  currently   evaluating   its   new
organizational structure to determine its reportable segments.

In  June  1998, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No.  133,  "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and  Hedging  Activities"
(SFAS No. 133). The provisions of SFAS No. 133 requires all derivatives  to
be  recorded  on the balance sheet at fair value. SFAS No. 133  establishes
"special accounting" for fair value hedges, cash flow hedges, and hedges of
foreign  currency  exposures  of  net investments  in  foreign  operations.
Derivatives  that  are not hedges must be adjusted to  fair  value  through
income.   If  the  derivative is a hedge, depending on the  nature  of  the
hedge,  changes  in  the fair value of derivatives will  either  be  offset
against  the  change in fair value of the hedged item through  earnings  or
recognized  in  other  comprehensive  income  until  the  hedged  item   is
recognized  in earnings.  The ineffective portion of a derivative's  change
in  fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings. The Company  has
not  yet  determined  what  the effect of this statement  will  be  on  the
earnings  and  financial position of the Company when it becomes  effective
for fiscal 2000.

The   Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for  the  fiscal year
ended  October  3, 1998, reflect the significant accounting policies,  debt
provisions,  borrowing  arrangements, dividend restrictions,  contingencies
and  commitments  of the Company. There were no material  changes  in  such
items  during  the six months ended April 3, 1999, except as  disclosed  in
these notes.






























                                     7

2.   Earnings Per Share

The  following  table  sets  forth the computation  of  basic  and  diluted
earnings per share for the three and six months ended:
                                                  

                                    (In millions except per share amounts)
                                    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended

                                     April 3, March 28,  April 3, March 28,
                                       1999     1998       1999     1998
                                     -------  --------   -------  --------
Numerator:   Net Income               $64.6     $23.3    $120.4     $68.2
                                      =====     =====    ======     =====
Denominator:
   Denominator for basic
     earnings per share-
     weighted average shares          230.5     231.5     230.6     222.4

   Effect of dilutive securities:
     Employee stock options             1.1       0.9       1.3       1.0
                                      -----     -----     -----     -----
   Denominator for diluted
      earnings per share-
      adjusted weighted average
      shares and assumed conversions  231.6     232.4     231.9     223.4
                                      =====     =====     =====     =====
Basic earnings per share              $0.28     $0.10     $0.52     $0.31
                                      =====     =====     =====     =====
Diluted earnings per share            $0.28     $0.10     $0.52     $0.31
                                      =====     =====     =====     =====

3.   Inventories

Inventories, valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out)  or  market,
consist of the following:
                                                (In millions)
                                          April 3,       October 3,
                                            1999            1998
                                         ---------       ----------
     Finished and work-in-process        $  503.3           $410.4
     Live poultry and hogs                  370.9            374.2
     Seafood related products                31.8             49.2
     Hatchery eggs and feed                  69.0             71.5
     Supplies                                80.5             78.8
                                         _________          ______
     Total                               $1,055.5           $984.1
                                         =========          ======

4.   Assets held for sale

Effective  December  31,  1998, the Company sold Willow  Brook  Foods,  its
integrated  turkey production and processing business, and its Albert  Lea,
Minn., processing facility which primarily produced the Schweigert brand of
sausages,  lunch and deli meats, to PLF Meats, Inc., a subsidiary  of  MCMI
Food,  Inc. of San Antonio, Texas (collectively, the "Willow Brook  Sale").
In  addition, on  December 31, 1998, the  Company  sold  its  National  Egg

                                     8

Products Company operations in Social Circle, Ga. to Rose Acre Farms,  Inc.
of  Seymour,  Indiana (the "NEPCO Sale").  These facilities were  sold  for
amounts which approximated their carrying values.  These operations,  which
were reflected in assets held for sale at October 3, 1998, were acquired as
part  of  the acquisition of Hudson Foods, Inc. ("Hudson") in January  1998
(the  "Hudson Acquisition"). The remaining balance of assets held for  sale
at  April  3, 1999 relates to facilities identified for closing  under  the
Company's restructuring program which are expected to be disposed of within
the next twelve months.


Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
          and Results of Operations

FINANCIAL CONDITION

For the six months ended April 3, 1999 net cash totaling $290.6 million was
provided  by all operating activities. Operations provided $188 million  in
cash  and  $102.6  million  was  provided by net  changes  in  receivables,
inventories,  payables  and  other  items.  The  Company  used  cash   from
operations  to  fund  $179.2  million  of  property,  plant  and  equipment
additions  and  pay  down  debt  by $113.4 million.  The  expenditures  for
property,  plant and equipment were related to acquiring new equipment  and
upgrading facilities in order to maintain competitive standing and position
the Company for future opportunities.

At  April  3, 1999, working capital was $652.5 million compared  to  $934.1
million at 1998 fiscal year-end, a decrease of $281.6 million.  The current
ratio  at  April 3, 1999 was 1.58 to 1 compared to 2.12 to 1 at October  3,
1998.  Working  capital  has  decreased since  year-end  primarily  due  to
increases  in current liabilities.  Assets held for sale decreased  due  to
completion  of the Willow Brook Sale and the NEPCO Sale effective  December
31,  1998.  The increase in other current liabilities includes income taxes
payable  from  the  sale  of Willow Brook and NEPCO  that  were  previously
provided  for  and reclassed from deferred income taxes payable.   Finished
inventories  have  increased since year end mainly due to  seasonal  demand
during  the  summer months.  The increase in current portion  of  long-term
debt  relates  to timing of debt payments.   Total debt, including  current
portion of long-term debt, has decreased since year end.  At April 3, 1999,
total  debt was 49.4% of total capitalization compared to 51.9% at  October
3,  1998.  The Company's foreseeable cash needs for operations and  capital
expenditures will continue to be met through cash flows from operations and
borrowings  supported by existing credit facilities as well  as  additional
credit facilities which the Company believes are available.

The Company has an unsecured revolving credit agreement totaling $1 billion
which  supports  the Company's commercial paper program.  This  $1  billion
facility  expires  in  May  2002. At April  3,  1999,  $432.5  million  was
outstanding under this $1 billion facility consisting of $412.5 million  in
commercial  paper  and  $20  million drawn under the  revolver.  Additional
outstanding long-term debt at April 3, 1999 consisted of $878.7 million  of
public  debt,  $164.8  million of institutional notes,  $162.6  million  in
leveraged  equipment  loans and $85.7 million of  other  indebtedness.  The
Company  may  use  funds  borrowed under its revolving  credit  facilities,
commercial  paper  program  or  through the  issuance  of  additional  debt
securities  from  time to  time in  the future to  finance  acquisitions as

                                     
                                     9

opportunities may arise, to refinance other indebtedness or capital  leases
of the Company and for other general corporate purposes.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Sales  for the second quarter of fiscal 1999 decreased 1.6% from  the  same
period  of fiscal 1998. This decrease is mainly due to the sale of non-core
businesses prior to the second quarter of fiscal 1999. Excluding  sales  of
these  non-core businesses and Tyson de Mexico, which was not  consolidated
in  the  second  quarter of fiscal 1998, comparable sales  from  continuing
operations increased 1.5% over the second quarter of fiscal 1998.  Consumer
poultry   sales accounted for  an increase  of 2.9% of the total change  in
sales  for the second quarter of fiscal 1999 as compared to the same period
of fiscal 1998. This increase was due to a 14.2% increase in tonnage offset
somewhat by a 9.2% decrease in average sales prices.

The  prepared foods group sales accounted for an increase of  0.1%  of  the
total change in sales for the second quarter of fiscal 1999 as compared  to
the  same period of fiscal 1998. This increase was primarily due to a  9.8%
increase  in  average  sales prices mostly offset by  a  6.9%  decrease  in
tonnage.  Seafood sales accounted for an increase of 1.3% of the change  in
total  sales for the second quarter of fiscal 1999 as compared to the  same
period of fiscal 1998. This increase was due to a 40.8% increase in tonnage
and a 4.1% increase in average sales prices. While tonnage and sales prices
increased  for the quarter, the seafood operations continue to be  affected
by  the availability of some species of fish as well as reduced pricing  on
some products and other regulations which limit its source of supply. Sales
of  live swine and other as a group accounted for a decrease of 5.9% of the
change in total sales for the second quarter of fiscal 1999 as compared  to
the same period of fiscal 1998.

In  fiscal 1998, the Company announced a strategy of focusing on  its  core
business  - producing and marketing chicken and poultry based food products
- -  while  reviewing the possibility of divesting other non-core assets.  On
January  18,  1999,  the  Company  announced  that  it  is  exploring   the
possibility of divesting its live swine and seafood assets. The Company has
received  indications of interest on certain of these assets.  During  this
process,  the Company intends to manage these operations in a  manner  that
maximizes  value, regardless of whether the live swine and  seafood  assets
are sold or continue to be operated by the Company.

Sales for the first six months of fiscal 1999 increased 8.1% from the  same
period  of  fiscal 1998. This increase is mainly due to volume gained  from
the  Hudson  Acquisition,  and  the inclusion  of  Tyson  de  Mexico  on  a
consolidated basis. Consumer  poultry  sales accounted for  an increase  of
8.7%  of the total change in sales for the first six months of fiscal  1999
as  compared to the same period of fiscal 1998. This increase was due to  a
20.4%  increase  in tonnage offset somewhat by a 8.1% decrease  in  average
sales prices.








                                    10

The  prepared foods group sales accounted for an increase of  0.3%  of  the
total  change in sales for the first six months of fiscal 1999 as  compared
to  the  same period of fiscal 1998. This increase was primarily due  to  a
12.7%  increase in average sales prices mostly offset by a 4%  decrease  in
tonnage.  Seafood sales accounted for an increase of 1.2% of the change  in
total sales for the first six months of fiscal 1999 as compared to the same
period of fiscal 1998. This increase was due to a 45.1% increase in tonnage
slightly offset by a 2.6% decrease in average sales prices. Sales  of  live
swine  and other as a group accounted for a decrease of 2.1% of the  change
in  total sales for the first six months of fiscal 1999 as compared to  the
same period of fiscal 1998.

The live swine business experienced a significant decrease in market prices
for the first six months of fiscal 1999 compared to the first six months of
fiscal  1998, resulting in a live swine group net loss of $0.03  per  share
for  the  second quarter and $0.09 per share for the first  six  months  of
fiscal 1999. Management cannot predict future market prices for live swine,
but  anticipates  continued losses from its live swine  business  at  least
through the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999.

Cost of goods sold decreased 5.2% for the second quarter of fiscal 1999  as
compared  to  the same period of fiscal 1998. This decrease is  mainly  the
result  of  lower grain costs.  As a percent of sales, cost  of  sales  was
82.5%  for  the  second quarter of fiscal 1999 compared to  85.6%  for  the
second quarter of fiscal 1998.

Cost  of goods sold increased 6.2% for the first six months of fiscal  1999
as  compared to the same period of fiscal 1998. This increase is mainly the
result of the increase in sales offset somewhat by lower grain costs.  As a
percent  of  sales,  cost of sales was 82.9% for the first  six  months  of
fiscal 1999 compared to 84.4% for the first six months of fiscal 1998.

Operating  expenses decreased 4.6% for the second quarter  of  fiscal  1999
over  the  same quarter of fiscal 1998. Selling expense, as  a  percent  of
sales,  decreased to 7.9% for the second quarter of fiscal 1999 as compared
to  8.3%  for the second quarter of fiscal 1998 largely due to the sale  of
non-core businesses prior to the second quarter of fiscal 1999. General and
administrative  expense, as a percent of sales,  was  1.8%  in  the  second
quarter  of fiscal 1999 and fiscal 1998. Amortization expense, as a percent
of  sales,  was 0.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 1999 and 0.4%  in  the
second  quarter  of  fiscal 1998. The increase in amortization  expense  is
mainly due to additional amortization related to the Hudson Acquisition.

Operating  expenses increased 4.2% for the first six months of fiscal  1999
over  the  same period of fiscal 1998 mostly due to the Hudson Acquisition.
Selling expense, as a percent of sales, decreased to 8.0% for the first six
months  of  fiscal  1999 as compared to 8.3% for the first  six  months  of
fiscal 1998. General and administrative expense, as a percent of sales, was
1.8%  for the first six months of fiscal 1999 compared to 1.9% for the same
period last year. Amortization expense, as a percent of sales, was 0.5% for
the  first  six months of fiscal 1999 and 0.4% for the first six months  of
fiscal 1998.

Interest  expense  decreased 16.1% for the second quarter  of  fiscal  1999
compared  to  the same quarter of fiscal 1998 primarily as a  result  of  a
11.6%  decrease  in   the Company's  average  indebtedness  over  the  same
period last year.  Additionally, the net average effective interest rate of

                                    11

all  Company debt for the second quarter of fiscal 1999 decreased  to  6.3%
compared  to  6.7% for the same period last year primarily as a  result  of
lower short-term borrowing costs.
                                     
Interest  expense decreased 3.2% for the first six months  of  fiscal  1999
compared to the first six months of fiscal 1998 as a result of lower short-
term  average  borrowing  costs compared to  the  same  period  last  year.
Although the Company's average indebtedness increased slightly by 0.7% over
the  same period one year ago, the net average effective interest  rate  of
all  Company debt for the first six months of fiscal 1999 decreased to 6.2%
compared to 6.4% for the same period last year.

The  effective  income tax rate for the second quarter of fiscal  1999  was
35.4%  compared to 36.9% for the same period of fiscal 1998. The  effective
income  tax rate for the first six months of fiscal 1999 was 35.6% compared
to  37%  for the same period of fiscal 1998. The decrease in the  effective
income tax rate for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal  1999
is  due  in  part  to  foreign subsidiary earnings  being  taxed  at  their
applicable foreign rate.


IMPACT OF YEAR 2000

The  Year 2000 Issue is the result of computer programs being written using
two  digits  rather than four to define the applicable year.   Any  of  the
Company's computer programs that have date-sensitive software may recognize
a  date using "00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000.  This  could
result  in  a  system  failure or miscalculations  causing  disruptions  of
operations, including among other things, a temporary inability to  process
transactions,   send  invoices,  or  engage  in  similar  normal   business
activities.

Because of the nature of the Year 2000 issue, older software is more likely
to  have  issues  with Year 2000 readiness, while newer  software  is  more
likely  to  be  Year 2000 compliant.  The Company has replaced  its  entire
computer  software  applications portfolio since  1990.   Nonetheless,  the
Company  has  been  working on testing and ensuring  application  readiness
since  1996.   Many  of  the applications that are  used  to  support  core
business  processes have been taken to offsite computer testing  facilities
to  ensure  their  Year  2000  readiness.  This includes  core  application
functionality  as  well  as  interfaces to other applications  and  outside
partners.

In  addition  to the testing that has been done, the Company  has  been  in
contact with the providers of packaged software applications to ensure that
these  packages are also Year 2000 ready. To this point, all  suppliers  of
software  have provided some approach for the Company to ensure  readiness,
either  through  upgrades  or new products. Most of  these  solutions  have
already been implemented.

In   certain  instances,  software  has  been  purchased  to  provide   new
functionality  for the Company replacing software that was  not  compliant.
These  purchases were not predicated by the Year 2000 issue;  however,  the
result is that the new systems are compliant and non-compliant systems  are
ultimately  retired.   An  example of this is  the  implementation  of  new
accounting software from SAP that the Company installed at the beginning of
the 1999 fiscal year.

                                    12

Because  many  of  the  systems were already  compliant,  did  not  require
significant  modifications to make them compliant,  or  were  replaced  for
other  business  reasons, the costs incurred specifically to  address  Year
2000  readiness are not material to the Company.  Since 1996, the  expenses
that  resulted  from  Year  2000 readiness activities  have  been  absorbed
through  the annual Management Information Systems operational  budget  and
funded  from  internally  generated funds.  These costs  can  be  primarily
described  as  personnel  costs and have increased  each  year  since  1996
because of increased activity from testing.  The costs incurred since  1996
are approximately $1.5 million and are anticipated to be less than $720,000
in 1999.  No projects under consideration by the Company have been deferred
because of Year 2000 efforts.

Because  of the rapid pace of change in technology, especially in the  area
of hardware, the Company regularly upgrades and replaces hardware platforms
such as database and application servers.  Consequently, all of the servers
are  Year 2000 ready.  More than 90 percent of the personal computers  have
been certified as being Year 2000 ready with the remainder to be replaced.

The telephone systems in use by the Company have also been surveyed.  There
are  more  than  170  of these systems currently in use.   Three  of  these
systems  currently have Year 2000 issues that need to be resolved.   It  is
expected that these systems will be addressed by the end of fiscal 1999.

The embedded technology in the production environment, such as programmable
logic controllers, computer-controlled valves and other equipment, has been
inventoried  and  the Company has contacted the vendors who  supplied  this
technology with respect to their Year 2000 readiness.  While not all of the
responses  have  been  received, those that have  responded  have  given  a
positive response to their Year 2000 readiness.  Based on current evidence,
the  Company  believes there to be no significant exposure with  regard  to
production equipment.

The Company has initiated formal communications with all of its significant
suppliers  and  large  customers  to determine  the  extent  to  which  the
Company's interface systems are vulnerable to those third parties'  failure
to  remediate  their own Year 2000 issues.  The Company's total  Year  2000
project  cost,  which  is  not expected to have a material  effect  on  the
Company's  results  of operations, includes the estimated  costs  and  time
associated  with  the  impact of third party Year 2000  issues  based  upon
presently  available information.  However, there can be no guarantee  that
the systems of other companies on which the Company's systems rely will  be
converted  timely  or  would not have an adverse effect  on  the  Company's
systems.

To  date, the Company has completed 100 percent of the assessment phase and
approximately  98  percent  of  the  remediation  phase.   The  Company  is
currently  working  on  the testing phase and anticipates  continuing  this
phase  up  to  December  31,  1999.  The  Company  has  not  established  a
contingency plan for possible Year 2000 issues.  The Company will establish
contingency  plans, if needed, based on its actual testing experience  with
its supplier base and assessment of outside risks.






                                    13

CAUTIONARY  STATEMENTS  RELEVANT  TO FORWARD-LOOKING  INFORMATION  FOR  THE
PURPOSE  OF  "SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES  LITIGATION
REFORM ACT OF 1995

The  Company and its representatives may from time to time make written  or
oral forward-looking  statements, including forward-looking statements made
in  this  report,  with  respect to their  current views and  estimates  of
future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and
financial results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number
of factors and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results
and  experiences  to  differ  materially from the anticipated  results  and
expectations, expressed in such forward-looking  statements.  The   Company
wishes   to  caution  readers not to place undue reliance on  any  forward-
looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Among the factors
that  may  affect the operating results of the Company are  the  following:
(i)  fluctuations  in the cost and availability of raw materials,  such  as
feed  grain  costs in relation to historical levels; (ii)  changes  in  the
availability  and  relative  costs of labor and  contract  growers;   (iii)
market  conditions for finished products, including the supply and  pricing
of  alternative  proteins, all of which may impact  the  Company's  pricing
power;  (iv) effectiveness of advertising and marketing programs;  (v)  the
ability  of  the  Company to make effective acquisitions  and  successfully
integrate  newly acquired businesses into existing operations;  (vi)  risks
associated  with  leverage,   including   cost  increases  due   to  rising
interest   rates; (vii) changes in regulations and laws, including  changes
in  accounting  standards,  environmental laws,  occupational,  health  and
safety laws, and laws regulating fishing and seafood processing activities;
(viii)  issues  related  to  food safety, including  costs  resulting  from
product   recalls,  regulatory  compliance  and  any  related   claims   or
litigation;  (ix) access to foreign markets together with foreign  economic
conditions,  including currency fluctuations; and (x)  the  effect  of,  or
changes in, general economic conditions.
                                     
Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risks

Market  risks  relating to the Company's operations result  primarily  from
changes in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign exchange rates.  To
address these risks the Company enters into various hedging transactions as
described below. The Company does not use financial instruments for trading
purposes and is not a party to any leveraged derivatives.

Commodities Risk

The  Company is a purchaser of certain commodities, primarily corn, soybean
meal and soybean oil.  The Company periodically uses commodity futures  and
purchased  options  for hedging purposes to reduce the effect  of  changing
commodity  prices  and  as  a mechanism to procure  the  commodities.   The
contracts that effectively meet risk reduction and correlation criteria are
recorded  using  hedge  accounting.   Gains  and  losses  on  closed  hedge
transactions  are  recorded  as a component  of  the  underlying  inventory
purchase.

The  following  table  provides information about the  Company's  commodity
inventory and futures contracts for corn, soybean meal and soybean oil that
are  sensitive  to  changes in commodity prices.  The  table  presents  the
carrying  amounts and fair values at April 3, 1999. Additionally,  for  the
futures   contracts,   the  latest   which   matures  9  months  from   the

                                    14

reporting  date,  the  table  presents  the  notional  amounts in  units of
purchase,  the  weighted  average  contract  prices  and the  total  dollar
contract amounts. Contract amounts  are  used to calculate the  contractual
payments and quantity of corn, soybean meal and soybean oil to be exchanged
under the futures contracts.

(dollars and volume in millions, except per unit amounts)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Volume     Contract/   Weighted     Fair    Weighted
                                 Book Value Average Price  Value   Average
                                              Per Unit            Price Per
                                                                     Unit
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commodity Inventory         -     $32.9      $  -        $32.9     $  -

Futures Contracts

Corn (volume in bushels)
Long (Buy) Positions      1.2      $2.8      $2.24        $2.8    $2.24
Short (Sell) Positions    0.2      $0.5      $2.18        $0.5    $2.24

Soybean Meal
Long (Buy) Positions      -        $2.8     $126.6        $3.0  $137.87

Soybean Oil
Long (Buy) Positions      -        $0.6     $20.75        $0.6   $19.71
=========================================================================

Foreign Currency and Interest Rate Risks

The Company periodically enters into foreign exchange forward contracts and
option  contracts  to  hedge  some of its foreign  currency  exposure.  The
Company  uses  such  contracts  to hedge exposure  to  changes  in  foreign
currency  exchange  rates, primarily Japanese Yen,  associated  with  sales
denominated  in foreign currency. Gains and losses on these  contracts  are
recognized  as an adjustment of the subsequent transaction when it  occurs.
Forward  and  option contracts generally have maturities not  exceeding  12
months.   At  April  3,  1999,  the Company did  not  have  any  reportable
transactions that are sensitive to foreign currency exchange rates.

The Company also hedges exposure to changes in interest rates on certain of
its  financial instruments.  Under the terms of various leveraged equipment
loans, the Company enters into interest rate swap agreements to effectively
lock  in a fixed interest rate for these borrowings. The maturity dates  of
these leveraged equipment loans range from 2005 to 2008 with interest rates
ranging from 4.7% to 6%.

The  following  table  provides information about the Company's  derivative
financial instruments and other financial instruments that are sensitive to
changes  in  interest  rates. The table presents  for  the  Company's  debt
obligations, principal cash flows, related weighted-average interest  rates
by  expected maturity dates and fair values. For interest rate  swaps,  the
table  presents notional amounts, weighted-average interest rates or strike
rates  by contractual maturity dates and fair values. Notional amounts  are
used  to  calculate  the contractual cash flows to be exchanged  under  the
contract.
                                     
                                     
                                    15

                         Interest Rate Sensitivity
             Principal (Notional) Amount by Expected Maturity
                       Average Interest (Swap) Rate
___________________________________________________________________________
(dollars in millions)1999  2000   2001   2002  2003  There-   Total   Fair
                                                     after           Value
                                                                     4/3/99
___________________________________________________________________________
Liabilities

Long-term Debt,
  including
  Current Portion

Fixed Rate        $223.6 $126.7 $74.4 $177.6 $29.0 $814.0 $1,445.3 $1,516.1
 Average Interest
   Rate            6.29%  8.22% 9.46%  6.20%  7.14%  6.81%   6.92%

Variable Rate        -    $20.1   -   $432.5   -    $50.0   $502.6   $502.6
 Average Interest
   Rate              -    7.27%   -    5.05%   -     3.10%   4.94%

Interest Rate
  Derivative Financial
  Instruments Related
  to Debt
Interest Rate Swaps
  Pay Fixed         $8.5  $17.2  $18.4  $19.6  $21.6 $50.2  $135.5 $(4.5)
  Average Pay Rate  6.70%  6.71%  6.69%  6.73% 6.73%  6.59%   6.67%
  Average Receive Rate- USD 6 Month Libor.
===========================================================================


                        PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

           Not Applicable

Item 2.    Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

           Not Applicable

Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities

           Not Applicable
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                    16

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

The following directors were elected at the annual meeting of shareholders
held January 8, 1999:

DIRECTORS                      VOTES FOR           VOTES WITHHELD
_________                      _________           ______________
Wayne Britt                   1,129,222,245            1,828,539
Neely Cassady                 1,129,217,062            1,833,722
Lloyd V. Hackley              1,129,203,161            1,847,623
Gerald M. Johnston            1,129,207,135            1,843,649
Shelby Massey                 1,129,202,589            1,848,195
Joe F. Starr                  1,129,195,168            1,855,616
Leland Tollett                1,129,198,484            1,852,300
Barbara Tyson                 1,129,203,725            1,847,059
Don Tyson                     1,129,193,529            1,857,255
John Tyson                    1,129,192,575            1,858,209
Fred S. Vorsanger             1,129,193,297            1,857,487
Donald E. Wray                1,129,209,003            1,841,781

No  other  items  were voted on at the annual meeting  of  shareholders  or
during the quarter ended April 3, 1999.

Item 5.    Other Information

During  the second quarter of fiscal 1999, the Company experienced s strike
at its Corydon, Indiana facility by members of the United Food & Commercial
Workers  International  Union (UFCW).  The strike was  settled  during  the
quarter  and  did  not materially adversely impact the  operations  of  the
Company.  The Company has 23 facilities which have employees subject  to  a
collective  bargaining agreement, 13 of which are  with  the  UFCW.   These
collective  bargaining agreements expire on various dates from October  10,
1999  to  February 24, 2002.  Although the Company believes that  relations
with its workforce are generally good, there can be no assurance that union
related  activities,  including work stoppages or other  strikes  will  not
occur in the future.

On  May  7,  1999,  the  Company announced the election  of  an  additional
director and an increase in its quarterly dividend for the dividend  to  be
paid  September  15,  1999. A copy of a related press release  is  attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.


Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Exhibits:

The exhibits filed with this report are listed in the exhibit index at the
end of this Item 6.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

The Company did not file any reports on Form 8-K for the quarter ended
April 3, 1999.




                                    17


EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are filed with this report.

Exhibit No.                                                       Page
- -----------                                                       ----

3.1  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
     (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
     Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     October 3, 1998, Commission File No. 0-3400, and
     incorporated herein by reference).

3.2  Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (previously
     filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Annual Report on
     Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 1996,
     Commission File No. 0-3400, and incorporated herein by
     reference).

                                     
27   Financial Data Schedule

99   Press Release, dated May 7, 1999, of Tyson Foods, Inc.      20-21


                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                    18

                                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 thereunto duly authorized.

                                    TYSON FOODS, INC.

Date: May 10, 1999                 /s/ Steven Hankins
      ------------                 ----------------------------
                                   Steven Hankins
                                   Executive Vice President and
                                     Chief Financial Officer


Date: May 10, 1999                 /s/ James G. Ennis
      ------------                 ----------------------------
                                   James G. Ennis
                                   Vice President, Controller and
                                     Chief Accounting Officer





































                                     
                                    19