Sanderson Farms Reports No Damage from Hurricane Gustav

LAUREL, Miss.--(Business Wire)--
Sanderson Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAFM) today announced that the
Company's Louisiana and Mississippi properties were not materially
affected by Hurricane Gustav, which made landfall on Louisiana's
southwestern coast on Monday, September 1, 2008. The Company's
facilities did not sustain any significant storm-related damage other
than the temporary loss of electric power.

The Company also reported that its initial assessment of its
independent contract producers' assets indicates no significant
damage. Approximately 60 percent of the Company's growers in its
McComb, Mississippi production division are without electrical
service, but those farms are equipped with generators to operate
equipment until power is restored.

"I am especially pleased we have received no reports of injuries
to Company personnel or their families as a result of Hurricane
Gustav," commented Joe F. Sanderson, Jr., chairman and chief executive
officer. "While we prepared for the worst, it appears this storm will
be much less eventful than Hurricane Katrina. We are not operating our
Hammond, Louisiana plant today, which remains without electrical
power, and its return to normal operations will be dictated by the
restoration of electrical services to the area and the return of
normal traffic on interstates following the return of evacuees to
south Louisiana. In the meantime, we will continue to help persons
affected by the storm, including providing ice and food to those
displaced in south Louisiana."

Finally, the Company has approximately $7.0 million in frozen
processed poultry inventories in a third party cold storage facility
at the Port of New Orleans. While the facility is currently without
electrical power, portable generators should operate to maintain the
inventory until power is restored.

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 Stock 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 2007 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, 2008.

Sanderson Farms, Inc.
Mike Cockrell, 601-649-4030
Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer

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