EXHIBIT 99.1

[SANDERSON FARMS LETTERHEAD]

             Contact:  Mike Cockrell
                       Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer
                       (601) 649-4030


      SANDERSON FARMS, INC. ANNOUNCES EARNINGS EXPECTATIONS FOR FISCAL 2004


LAUREL, Miss. (November 18, 2004) - Sanderson Farms, Inc. (Nasdaq/NM:SAFM) today
announced that, based on preliminary information and estimates, it expects
earnings for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2004, to be in the range of
$4.50 to $4.60 per diluted share. These projected results are lower than the
Company's previously announced outlook of $4.85 to $5.25 per diluted share for
fiscal 2004.

         Commenting on the announcement, Joe F. Sanderson, Jr., chairman and
chief executive officer of Sanderson Farms, said, "Our revised earnings
expectations for fiscal 2004 primarily reflect the decline in poultry prices
that we have experienced during our fourth fiscal quarter. While market prices
historically soften during the fall, the decline has been more substantial than
we originally projected, particularly for boneless breast meat. Additionally, as
we previously announced, our profitability during the last quarter of the fiscal
year was affected by higher grain prices.

         "While market conditions during this last quarter were less favorable
than what we experienced for most of fiscal 2004, Sanderson Farms will still
report a record financial performance this year," Sanderson continued. "Our
sales for fiscal 2004 will exceed $1 billion, surpassing the record $872 million
we reported last year and our operating margins continue to be among the highest
in the industry. Continued improvement in our operating performance and solid
marketing execution were important factors driving our results for the year.
More importantly, we remain optimistic about our prospects for fiscal 2005. We
believe that poultry prices have bottomed out and we remain confident that
strong consumer demand for chicken and further growth in exports will contribute
to a favorable market environment. We also expect to realize a significant
reduction in our operating costs for fiscal 2005 with materially lower prices
projected for corn and soybean meal, our primary feed ingredients.

         "Our record results for fiscal 2004 will also be reflected on our
balance sheet when we release results on December 7, 2004," said Sanderson. "We
finished the year with a strong cash position and virtually no debt. Our balance
sheet will enable us to easily complete our previously announced expansion into
South Georgia without significant use of our credit, and will allow us to
continue to explore other strategies to increase shareholder value."

         Sanderson Farms will announce financial and operating results for the
fourth quarter and fiscal year ending October 31, 2004, on December 7, 2004.

        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 National Market under the symbol SAFM.

         This press release contains forward-looking statements based on
management's current views and assumptions. Actual results and events may
differ. For a discussion of these matters, please refer to the "Cautionary
Statement Regarding Risks and Uncertainties That May Affect Future Performance"
in Item 7 of the Company's 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K and please refer to
the cautionary statement found in Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations under the heading "General" in
Part I, Item 2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Company's third
quarter ended July 31, 2004.