TYSON FOODS INC
10-Q, 1999-02-16
POULTRY SLAUGHTERING AND PROCESSING
Previous: TWIN DISC INC, SC 13G, 1999-02-16
Next: TYSON FOODS INC, SC 13G/A, 1999-02-16

























































<PAGE>
                               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 January 2, 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 January 2, 1999
- ------------------------------------         ---------------------------
Class A Common Stock, $.10 Par Value             128,056,701 Shares
Class B Common Stock, $.10 Par Value             102,645,423 Shares








                                  Page 1
<PAGE>
                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
                                   INDEX

                                                                      PAGE

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     Item 1.  Financial Statements

          Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
          January 2, 1999 and October 3, 1998                            3

          Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
          for the Three Months Ended
          January 2, 1999 and December 27, 1997                          4

          Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
          for the Three Months Ended
          January 2, 1999 and December 27, 1997                          5

          Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements         6-8

     Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
              Condition and Results of Operations                     8-12

     Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About
              Market Risks                                           12-15

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

     Item 1.  Legal Proceedings                                         15

     Item 2.  Changes in Securities                                     16

     Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities                           16

     Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders       16

     Item 5.  Other Information                                         16

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

SIGNATURES                                                              18















                                     2
<PAGE>
                       PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements
                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
                   CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                  (In millions except per share amounts)
                                               (Unaudited)
                                                January 2,    October 3,
ASSETS                                             1999          1998
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                      $   53.6     $   46.5
  Accounts receivable                               633.6        631.0
  Inventories                                     1,008.9        984.1
  Assets held for sale                                8.6         65.2
  Other current assets                               31.9         38.3
                                                  _______      _______
Total Current Assets                              1,736.6      1,765.1
Net Property, Plant, and Equipment                2,275.7      2,256.5
Excess of Investments over Net Assets Acquired    1,046.4      1,035.8
Investments and Other Assets                        189.8        185.1
                                                 ________     ________
Total Assets                                     $5,248.5     $5,242.5
                                                 ========     ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
  Notes payable                                  $  119.7     $   84.7
  Current portion of long-term debt                  74.1         77.6
  Trade accounts payable                            385.6        330.6
  Other accrued liabilities                         375.9        338.1
                                                  _______      _______
Total Current Liabilities                           955.3        831.0
Long-Term Debt                                    1,823.5      1,966.6
Deferred Income Taxes                               411.1        434.4
Other Liabilities                                    42.4         40.1
Shareholders' Equity:
  Common stock ($.10 par value):
   Class A-Authorized 900 million shares;
     issued 137.9 million shares at
     1-2-99 and 10-3-98                              13.8         13.8
   Class B-Authorized 900 million shares;
     issued 102.7 million shares at
     1-2-99 and 10-3-98                              10.3         10.3
  Capital in excess of par value                    740.4        740.5
  Retained earnings                               1,444.5      1,394.2
  Currency translation adjustment                                 (1.0)
                                                  _______      _______
                                                  2,209.0      2,157.8
  Less treasury stock, at cost-
    9.9 million shares at 1-2-99 and
    9.7 million shares at 10-3-98                   190.6        185.1
  Less unamortized deferred compensation              2.2          2.3
                                                 ________     ________
Total Shareholders' Equity                        2,016.2      1,970.4
                                                 ________     ________
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity       $5,248.5     $5,242.5
                                                 ========     ========

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
                                     
                                     3
<PAGE>
                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
                CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                    (In millions except per share data)
                                (Unaudited)
                                     
                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                   __________________

                                            January 2,         December 27,
                                              1999                1997
                                            __________         ___________

Sales                                       $1,824.7           $1,520.8
Cost of Sales                                1,519.4            1,260.1
                                             -------            --------
Gross Profit                                   305.3              260.7
Expenses:
  Selling                                      145.7              125.6
  General and administrative                    32.6               31.3
  Amortization                                   8.6                5.9
                                             -------             -------
Operating Income                               118.4               97.9
Other Expense (Income):
  Interest                                      31.3               27.2
  Foreign currency exchange                     (1.7)
  Other                                         (2.8)              (0.6)
                                             -------             -------
Income Before Taxes on Income                   91.6               71.3
Provision for Income Taxes                      32.8               26.4
Minority Interest                                3.0
                                             -------             -------
Net Income                                  $   55.8           $   44.9
                                             =======             =======
Basic Average Shares Outstanding               230.8              213.3
                                               =====             =====
Basic Earnings Per Share                       $0.24              $0.21
                                               =====              =====
Diluted Average Shares Outstanding             232.1              215.0
                                               =====              =====
Diluted Earnings Per Share                     $0.24              $0.21
                                               =====           =====
Cash Dividends Per Share:

  Class A                                    $0.0250            $0.0250
  Class B                                    $0.0225            $0.0225











The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
                                     
                                     4
<PAGE>
                             TYSON FOODS, INC.
              CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                               (In millions)
                                (Unaudited)
                                                      Three Months Ended
                                                      __________________
                                                   January 2,  December 27,
                                                     1999         1997
                                                   _________   ___________
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
  Net income                                        $  55.8      $  44.9
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash
   provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation                                       64.9         51.7
    Amortization                                        8.6          5.9
    Foreign currency exchange                          (1.7)
    Deferred income taxes                             (23.3)        (3.4)
    (Gain)loss on dispositions of assets               (0.9)         0.6
    Decrease in accounts receivable                    43.9         28.1
    Increase in inventories                           (24.8)       (28.4)
    Increase(decrease) in trade accounts payable       54.4        (21.3)
    Net change in other current assets
       and liabilities                                 44.1         (9.9)
                                                      _____       ______
Cash Provided by Operating Activities                 221.0         68.2
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
  Additions to property, plant and equipment         (107.8)       (50.3)
  Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment  19.1          2.4
  Net change in other assets and liabilities           (3.6)       (10.6)
                                                      _____       ______
Cash Used for Investing Activities                    (92.3)       (58.5)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
  Net change in notes payable                          34.9        101.5
  Proceeds from long-term debt                         14.2         20.4
  Repayments of long-term debt                       (160.8)      (121.2)
  Purchases of treasury shares                         (6.1)        (5.5)
  Other                                                (2.2)        (4.2)
                                                      _____       ______
Cash Used for Financing Activities                   (120.0)        (9.0)
Effect of Exchange Rate Change on Cash                 (1.6)        (0.1)
                                                      _____       ______
Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents                   7.1          0.6
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period       46.5         23.6
                                                     ______       ______
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period          $  53.6      $  24.2
                                                     ======       ======
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
  Cash paid during the period for:
    Interest                                          $29.9        $45.8
    Income taxes                                      $27.7         $2.1






The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
                                     
                                     5
<PAGE>
                             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  January 2,  1999   and
October 3, 1998 and the results of operations and cash flows for the  three
months  ended  January  2,  1999 and December  27,  1997.  The  results  of
operations  and cash flows for the three months ended January 2,  1999  and
December  27,  1997  are not necessarily indicative of the  results  to  be
expected for the full year.

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 three months ended January 2, 1999, except as disclosed in
these notes.


















                                     6
<PAGE>
2.   Earnings Per Share

The  following  table  sets  forth the computation  of  basic  and  diluted
earnings per share for the three months ended:
                                                  
                                               Quarter Ended
                                   (In millions except per share amounts)

                                       January 2,        December 27,
                                         1999               1997
                                       ---------         -----------
Numerator:
   Net Income                             $55.8              $44.9
                                          =====              =====
Denominator:
   Denominator for basic
     earnings per share-
     weighted average shares              230.8              213.3

   Effect of dilutive securities:
     Employee stock options                 1.3                1.7
                                          -----              -----
   Denominator for diluted
      earnings per share-
      adjusted weighted average
      shares and assumed conversions      232.1              215.0
                                          =====              =====
Basic earnings per share                  $0.24              $0.21
                                          =====              =====
Diluted earnings per share                $0.24              $0.21
                                          =====              =====

3.   Inventories

Inventories, valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out)  or  market,
consist of the following:
                                                (In millions)
                                          January 2,      October 3,
                                            1999             1998
                                          ---------       ----------
     Finished and work-in-process         $ 434.6           $410.4
     Live poultry and hogs                  385.5            374.2
     Seafood related products                38.6             49.2
     Hatchery eggs and feed                  65.6             71.5
     Supplies                                84.6             78.8
                                          ________          ______
     Total                                $1,008.9          $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

                                     7
<PAGE>

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  January 2, 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 three months ended January 2, 1999, net cash totaling $221 million
was  provided  by  all  operating activities.  Operations  provided  $103.4
million  in  cash  and  $117.6  million was  provided  by  net  changes  in
receivables, inventories, payables and other items. The Company  used  cash
from  operations  to fund $107.8 million of property, plant  and  equipment
additions  and  pay  down  debt  by $160.8 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  January 2, 1999, working capital was $781.3 million compared to  $934.1
million at 1998 fiscal year-end, a decrease of $152.8 million.  The current
ratio at January 2, 1999 was 1.82 to 1 compared to 2.12 to 1 at October  3,
1998.  Working  capital has decreased since year-end  primarily  due  to  a
decrease  in assets held for sale and increases in notes payable,  accounts
payable  and  other current liabilities.  The decrease in assets  held  for
sale  is  mainly due to completion of the Willow Brook Sale and  the  NEPCO
Sale  effective December 31, 1998.  At January 2, 1999, total debt was  50%
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 January 2, 1999,  $372.5  million  was
outstanding under this $1 billion facility consisting of $242.5 million  in
commercial  paper  and  $130 million drawn under the  revolver.  Additional
outstanding long-term debt at January 2, 1999 consisted of $1,028.4 million
of  public  debt, $221.6 million of institutional notes, $181.9 million  in
leveraged  equipment  loans and $93.2 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
opportunities may arise, to refinance other indebtedness or capital  leases
of the Company and for other general corporate purposes.




                                     8
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Sales  for  the  first quarter of fiscal 1999 increased 20% from  the  same
period of fiscal 1998. This increase is mainly due to an increase in  total
volume.  Consumer   poultry  sales, excluding  turkey,  accounted  for   an
increase   of 15.5% of the total change in sales for the first  quarter  of
fiscal  1999  as compared to the same period of fiscal 1998. This  increase
was due to a 28% increase in tonnage offset somewhat by a 7.3% decrease  in
average sales prices. A significant portion of the increase in total  sales
and consumer poultry sales for the first quarter of fiscal 1999 compared to
the  first  quarter of fiscal 1998 is due to volume gained from the  Hudson
Acquisition and the inclusion of Tyson de Mexico on a consolidated basis.

The  prepared foods group sales accounted for an increase of  0.6%  of  the
total  change in sales for the first quarter of fiscal 1999 as compared  to
the  same period of fiscal 1998. This increase was primarily due to a 15.5%
increase  in  average sales prices slightly offset by a  1.3%  decrease  in
tonnage.  Seafood sales accounted for an increase of 1% of  the  change  in
total  sales for the first quarter of fiscal 1999 as compared to  the  same
period of fiscal 1998. This increase was due to a 49.4% increase in tonnage
mostly  offset  by  a  9.6% decrease in average sales prices.  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  an increase of 2.9% of the change in total  sales  for  the
first quarter of fiscal 1999 as compared to the same period of fiscal 1998.

The live swine business experienced a significant decrease in market prices
in the first quarter of fiscal 1999 compared to the same quarter last year,
resulting  in  a  live swine group net loss of $.06 per  share.  Management
cannot  predict  future  market  prices for  live  swine,  but  anticipates
continued losses at least through the second quarter of fiscal 1999.

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  is
in  the  early  stages  of  this process but 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 part of the Company.

Cost of goods sold increased 20.6% for the first quarter of fiscal 1999  as
compared  to  the same period of fiscal 1998. This increase is  mainly  the
result of the increase in sales.  As a percent of sales, cost of sales  was
83.3%  for the first quarter of fiscal 1999 compared to 82.9% for the first
quarter of fiscal 1998.

Operating  expenses increased 14.8% for the first quarter  of  fiscal  1999
over  the same quarter of fiscal 1998 mostly due to the Hudson Acquisition.
Selling  expense,  as a percent of sales, decreased to  8%  for  the  first
quarter of fiscal 1999 as compared to 8.3% for the first quarter of  fiscal
1998.  General and administrative expense, as a percent of sales, was  1.8%
in  the  first quarter of fiscal 1999 compared to 2.1% in the same  quarter
last year. Included  in  general and  administrative expense for the  first

                                     9
<PAGE>
quarter  of fiscal 1998 is a charge of $6 million for penalties  and  costs
associated  with  the  plea agreement by the Company with  respect  to  the
investigation  by  the  Office of Independent Counsel  in  connection  with
former  Secretary of Agriculture Michael Espy. Amortization expense,  as  a
percent of sales, was 0.5% in the first quarter of fiscal 1999 and 0.4%  in
the  first quarter of fiscal 1998. The increase in amortization expense  is
mainly due to additional amortization related to the Hudson Acquisition.

Interest  expense  increased 15.1% for the first  quarter  of  fiscal  1999
compared  to  the same quarter of fiscal 1998 primarily as a  result  of  a
17.2%  increase in the Company's average indebtedness over the same  period
last  year.   The net average effective interest rate of all  Company  debt
decreased to 6.3% compared to 6.4% for the same period last year.

The  effective  income tax rate for the first quarter of  fiscal  1999  was
35.8%  compared to 37% for the same period of fiscal 1998 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.  Those remaining will be completed by March  31,
1999.

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.


                                    10
<PAGE>
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 $1.4 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 completed
by mid year or 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 March 31, 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 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.








                                    11
<PAGE>
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 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, including  those  related
to  the  Company's  ability to effectively assimilate Hudson,  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,
including  Hudson,  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)  access  to
foreign  markets  together  with  foreign  economic  conditions,  including
currency  fluctuations;  and (ix) 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  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 corn, soybean
oil  and  other  feed ingredient inventory and futures contracts  that  are
sensitive to changes in commodity prices.  The table presents the  carrying
amounts  and fair values at January 2, 1999. Additionally, for the  futures
contracts, the latest which matures 12 months from the reporting  date, the


                                    12
<PAGE>
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
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         -     $29.9      $  -       $29.9      $  -

Corn Futures Contracts
(volume in bushels)
Long (Buy) Positions      6.9     $15.9      $2.30      $15.7      $2.27
Short (Sell) Positions    7.5     $16.8      $2.24      $16.6      $2.21
===========================================================================
                                     
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.

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.
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                    
                                     
                                    13
<PAGE>
                         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
                                                                    1/2/99
___________________________________________________________________________
Liabilities

Long-term Debt,
  including
  Current Portion

Fixed Rate         $74.1 $277.3 $74.4 $27.3 $178.8 $818.6 $1,450.5 $1,497.0
  Average Interest 9.36%  6.40% 9.48% 7.31%  6.19%  6.80%    6.93%
      Rate

Variable Rate         -   $24.6   -  $372.5   -    $50.0   $447.1   $447.1
  Average Interest    -   7.38%   -   5.65%   -    4.15%    5.58%
      Rate

Interest Rate
  Derivative Financial
  Instruments Related
  to Debt
Interest Rate Swaps
  Pay Fixed         $12.2  $17.2  $18.4  $19.6  $21.6  $50.2 $139.2 ($6.8)
  Average Pay Rate   6.59%  6.71%  6.69%  6.73%  6.73%  6.59%  6.66%
  Average Receive Rate- USD 6 Month Libor.
===========================================================================

The  following table summarizes information on instruments and transactions
that  are  sensitive to foreign currency exchange rates. The table presents
the   notional  amounts,  weighted-average  exchange  rates   by   expected
(contractual)  maturity  dates  and fair  values.  These  notional  amounts
generally  are used to calculate the contractual payments to  be  exchanged
under the contract.


                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     

                                     
                                     
                                    14
<PAGE>
                 Exposures Related to Derivative Contracts
               with United States Dollar Functional Currency
             Principal (Notional) Amount by Expected Maturity
   Average Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Rate (USD/Foreign Currency)
                           (dollars in millions)
____________________________________________________________________________
                        1999       2000 - 2003      There-   Total    Fair
                                                    after             Value
                                                                      1/2/99
____________________________________________________________________________
Sold Option Contracts
 to Sell Foreign
 Currencies for US$
Japanese Yen
   Notional  Amount      $6.5             -                    $6.5      -
   Weighted Average
     Strike Price (Yen)109.48
Purchased Option
 Contracts to Sell
 Foreign Currencies
 for US$
Japanese Yen
  Notional Amount        $5.6             -                    $5.6      -
  Weighted Average
     Strike Price (Yen)126.69
Foreign Forward
 Exchange Contracts
Japanese Yen
  Notional Amount       $10.0             -                   $10.0  $(0.4)
  Weighted Average
     Strike Price (Yen)116.21
============================================================================


                        PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

On  December 16, 1998, Hudson, Michael Gregory, Hudson's former Director of
Customer  Relations and Quality Control, and Brent Wolke, the former  plant
manager of Hudson's Columbus, Nebraska facility, were indicted by a federal
grand jury in Omaha, Nebraska on two counts-making false statements to  the
USDA  and conspiracy to make such statements-in connection with the  August
1997 recall of Hudson beef products suspected of containing E-coli 0157:H7.
The  charges  arise out of presentations made on behalf of  Hudson  between
August  12  and August 20, 1997 (prior to the Hudson Acquisition)  to  USDA
FSIS   officials  during  Hudson's  cooperation  with  the  government   in
attempting  to  identify potentially contaminated product.  The  government
has  conceded that the contamination did not originate in the Hudson  plant
and  it  does  not  appear that any statements at issue in  the  indictment
resulted  in  or  are  alleged  to have resulted  in  any  illnesses.   All
defendants  have  entered not guilty pleas and intend to vigorously  defend
the  case at trial which will be held in the federal courthouse in Lincoln,
Nebraska  on  a date yet to be determined by the court.  According  to  the
government,  the potential penalty for Hudson is a fine of up  to  $500,000
and  the  individual defendants each face the possibility of up to 5  years
imprisonment and fines of up to $250,000.

                                    15
<PAGE>
Item 2.    Changes in Securities

           Not Applicable

Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities

           Not Applicable
                                     
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 January 2, 1999.

Item 5.    Other Information

The  Company recently announced a new organizational structure  which  will
realign  the  Company into groups designed around the marketplace  and  the
Company's customers and consumers.  The groups, each of which will  have  a
Group  President reporting to the Company's Chief Executive  Officer,  are:
(1)  Tyson Foodservice Group, (2) Tyson Consumer Products Group, (3)  Tyson
Prepared Foods Group, and (4) Tyson International Group. Each Group will be
aligned  with specific plants and will have profit and loss responsibility.
Additionally,  the  various administrative and  support  functions  of  the
Company have been realigned in six functional areas with an Executive  Vice
President  in  charge  of each area also reporting to the  Company's  Chief
Executive  Officer.   The Company believes that these changes  will  better
align  its personnel, products and assets with customer demands.  This  new
organizational structure is not anticipated to have any material  costs  in
its initial implementation.
                                     








                                    16
<PAGE>
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
January 2, 1999.


EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are filed with this report.

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

3.1  Certificate of Incorporation of the Company as amended
     (previously filed as Exhibit 3(a) to the Company's
     Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the
     Commission on July 8, 1992, Commission File No. 33-49368,
     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
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                    17
<PAGE>
                                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: February 16, 1999            /s/ Steven Hankins
      -----------------            ----------------------------
                                   Steven Hankins
                                   Executive Vice President and
                                     Chief Financial Officer


Date: February 16, 1999            /s/ James G. Ennis
      -----------------            ----------------------------
                                   James G. Ennis
                                    Vice President, Controller and
                                     Chief Accounting Officer






































                                    18

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 2, 1999 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000100493
<NAME> TYSON FOODS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-02-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-02-1999
<CASH>                                              54
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      634
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                      1,009
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 1,737
<PP&E>                                           2,276
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   5,249
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              955
<BONDS>                                          1,824
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                            24
<OTHER-SE>                                       1,992
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     5,249
<SALES>                                          1,825
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 1,825
<CGS>                                            1,519
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    1,519
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  31
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     92
<INCOME-TAX>                                        33
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                        56
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.24
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission