<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>c74559exv23.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EX-23 CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
<TEXT>
<PAGE>



                                                                      EXHIBIT 23

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

         We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in
the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company for the registration of $500,000,000 of its debt
securities and warrants to purchase debt securities and to the incorporation by
reference therein of our report dated July 31, 2002, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company incorporated
by reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June 30, 2002,
and the related financial statement schedule included therein, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                                     /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

St. Louis, Missouri
February 12, 2003



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
