CONTACT:          Mike Cockrell
                           Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer
                           601/649-4030


             Sanderson Farms, Inc. Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
                       ----------------------------------
                Declares Dividend Distribution of Preferred Share
                                 Purchase Rights

                  Laurel, Miss. (April 22, 1999) -- Sanderson Farms, Inc.
(NASDAQ/NM: SAFM) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a
regular quarterly cash dividend of $.05 (five cents) per share payable May 18,
1999, to stockholders of record on May 4, 1999.

                  The Board of Directors also declared a dividend distribution
of one Preferred Share Purchase Right on each outstanding share of Sanderson
Farms, Inc. common stock, replacing similar rights that expired on April 21,
1999.

                  Joe F. Sanderson, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Sanderson
Farms, Inc., stated, "Like our prior Rights Plan, the Rights Plan adopted today
is designed to assure that all of Sanderson Farms' stockholders receive fair and
equal treatment in the event of any proposed takeover of the Company and to
guard against partial tender offers, squeeze-cuts, open market accumulations and
other abusive tactics to gain control of Sanderson Farms without paying all
stockholders a control premium."

                  The Rights will be exercisable only if a person or group
acquires 20% or more of Sanderson Farms' common stock or announces a tender
offer the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group
of 20% or more of the common stock. Each Right will entitle stockholders (other
than the 20% or more acquiror) to buy one one-hundredth of a share of Sanderson
Farms' Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at an exercise price of
$75.



                  If a person or group acquires 20% or more of Sanderson Farms'
outstanding common stock, each Right will entitle its holder (other than such
person or members of such group) to purchase, at the Right's then-current
exercise price, a number of Sanderson Farms' common shares having a market value
of twice such price. The rights agreement exempts certain transactions involving
the Sanderson family. In addition, if Sanderson Farms is acquired in a merger or
other business combination transaction after a person has acquired 20% or more
of the Company's outstanding common stock, each Right will entitle its holder to
purchase, at the Right's then-current exercise price, a number of the acquiring
company's common shares having a market value of twice such price. The acquiring
person will not be entitled to exercise these Rights.

                  Prior to the acquisition by a person or group of beneficial
ownership of 20% or more of the Company's common stock, the Rights are
redeemable for $0.001 per Right at the option of Sanderson Farms' Board of
Directors.

                  Sanderson Farms' Board of Directors is also authorized to
reduce the 20% thresholds referred to above to not less than 10%.

                  The Rights are intended to enable all Sanderson Farms
stockholders to realize the long-term value of their investment in the Company.
The Rights will not necessarily prevent a takeover, but should encourage anyone
seeking to acquire the Company to negotiate with Sanderson Farms' Board of
Directors prior to attempting a takeover. The issuance of the Rights was not
made in response to any threatened takeover.

                  The dividend distribution of the Rights will be made on May
18, 1999, payable to stockholders of record on May 4, 1999. The Rights will
expire on May 4, 2009. The Rights distribution is not taxable to stockholders.

                  Sanderson Farms, Inc. is engaged in the production,
processing, marketing and distribution of fresh and frozen chicken and other
prepared food items. Its shares trade on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the
symbol SAFM.