ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND SIGN COMPLIANCE PLAN	

						Release No. 0016.97
	   
					Tom Amontree  (202) 720-4623
					Marlyn Aycock (202) 720-5237

USDA AND ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND SIGN COMPLIANCE PLAN

     WASHINGTON, Jan. 17,1997--The agri-business firm of Archer Daniels
Midland and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have signed a compliance
agreement covering certain ADM corporate practices following the company's
guilty pleas to two charges of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act, Grant
Buntrock, Farm Service Agency administrator and executive vice president of
the Commodity Credit Corporation, said today. 

     In addition, three former ADM officers have been suspended from
participating in government contracting or subcontracting, pending the
outcome of legal proceedings resulting from indictment on charges of
violating the antitrust laws.  They are Michael D. Andreas, Terrance S.
Wilson, and Mark E. Whitacre.

     "Although ADM didn't violate any USDA regulations, we are implementing
this agreement to fully protect the public interest," Buntrock said.  "ADM
has already paid a $100 million fine to settle the two charges.  ADM
approached us to determine what would be needed for ADM to demonstrate its
present responsibility to continue doing business with the government, and
this agreement followed."  Debarment cannot be used for punitive purposes.

     In the agreement between ADM and USDA, ADM will establish an education
and compliance program which includes the following: 

     1. Establishing a corporate code of conduct and compliance policy;
     2. Establishing an antitrust compliance guide;
     3. Distributing the code and antitrust guides to employees involved in 
        marketing and sales;
     4. Certification by employees that they understand and will comply     
        with laws and policies set forth in the code and guide; and
     5. An annual ethics and antitrust training seminar.

     ADM agreed to have a Compliance Officer and managers responsible for
supervising the agreement and fielding reports by employees of impropriety
and for investigating such reports.  The 3-year agreement calls for ADM to
allow USDA access to books and records to ensure its compliance with the
agreement.  The Office of Inspector General is prepared to review the books
and records.  This agreement is similar to other agreements the Department
has proposed or entered into with other companies.

     Last October, ADM agreed to plead guilty to a charge of conspiring to
suppress and eliminate competition by fixing the price of lysine, an amino
acid food additive, and a charge of conspiring to fix the price and allocate
the sales volume of citric acid in the United States and elsewhere.
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     For further information, contact Ralph Linden at 202-720-9246.

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