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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GEJGkDL0kyi9G66jkQZAfrNAPULG1gqubsWUt1FU2cQSs8vb3ueF5yqel3acp9E2
 dF4DTg95dq7gbF4xg5WUng==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000007084-03-000136.txt : 20031016
<SEC-HEADER>0000007084-03-000136.hdr.sgml : 20031016
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031016164233
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000007084-03-000136
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031014
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031016

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MULHOLLEM PAUL B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001229816

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00044
		FILM NUMBER:		03944194

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO
		STREET 2:		4666 FARIES PARKWAY
		CITY:			DECATUR
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62526
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2174518643

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000007084
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FATS & OILS [2070]
		IRS NUMBER:				410129150
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4666 FARIES PKWY
		CITY:			DECATUR
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62526
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2174244798

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4666 FARIES PKWY
		CITY:			DECATUR
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62526
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-14</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000007084</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229816</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MULHOLLEM PAUL B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4666 FARIES PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DECATUR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>62526</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President </officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>109859</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>246810</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value
/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>13769</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Employee Benefit Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option </value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13.65</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>158537</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePe
rShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-10-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>158537</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>158537</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Between May 1, 2003 and October 14, 2003, the reporting person acquired 128 shares of ADM common stock pursuant to an employee benefit plan.  The information in this report is based on a plan statement dated
 October 14, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Granted under Archer-Daniels-Midland Company's 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan.  The option becomes exercisable in approximately 11.1% increments annually commencing on October 14, 2004.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Stuart E. Funderburg, Attorney-in-Fact for Paul B.Mulhollem</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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