Exhibit 10.20

                    1998 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

     Agribrands  International,  Inc. (the "Company"),  effective  September 25,
1998,  grants this  Non-Qualified  Stock Option to ____________  ("Optionee") to
purchase a total of 5,000 shares of its $.01 par value Common Stock (the "Common
Stock") at a price of $21.69 per share pursuant to the Agribrands International,
Inc.  Incentive  Stock Plan (the "Plan").  Subject to the provisions of the Plan
and the following terms, Optionee may exercise this option as set forth below by
tendering to the Company  written notice of exercise  together with the purchase
price in either cash,  or in shares of Common Stock of the Company at their fair
market value as determined by the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"), or
in both cash and such shares.

     NOW THEREFORE,  the Company and Optionee agree, for and in consideration of
the terms hereof, as follows:

1.   Normal Exercise. This Option becomes exercisable on September 25, 2007, and
     remains  exercisable  through  September  24, 2008,  unless  Optionee is no
     longer a continuously serving member of the Board, in which case the Option
     is exercisable only in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 below.

2.   Exercise  After Certain  Events.  Upon the  occurrence of any of the events
     described below,  this Option shall become  exercisable in full on the date
     of such event and shall remain exercisable for the periods set forth below,
     but, in any event,  not later than  September  24,  2008.  Thereafter,  the
     unexercised portion of this Option is forfeited and may not be exercised.

     a.   Optionee's  retirement  from the Board,  following  expiration of term
          without  re-election  to a  subsequent  term  (exercisable  for  three
          years).

     b.   Optionee's   retirement  or  resignation  from  the  Board,  prior  to
          expiration  of  any  term  (other  than  due  to  Change  of  Control)
          (exercisable for one year).

     c.   Optionee's  removal or  resignation  due to  declaration of disability
          (exercisable for three years).

     d.   Optionee's  death by beneficiary  in accordance  with Section V of the
          Plan (exercisable for three years).

     e.   Change of Control of the Company (exercisable for six months).

3.   Forfeiture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan,
     this  Option is subject to  forfeiture  if Optionee  renders  services to a
     competitor  or is removed  from his  position  as a  Director  for cause in
     accordance with the Company's  Articles and Bylaws and the corporation laws
     of the State of  Missouri  or if  Optionee  fails to  exercise  this Option
     within  the  appropriate  period  set forth in  Section 1, but shall not be
     subject  to  forfeiture  for any other  reason.  Following  forfeiture,  no
     portion of this Option may be exercised.


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4.   Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof in
     any  jurisdiction  shall not affect the validity or  enforceability  of the
     remainder hereof in that jurisdiction, or the validity or enforceability of
     this  Non-Qualified  Stock Option,  including that provision,  in any other
     jurisdiction.  To the extent  permitted by applicable  law, the Company and
     Optionee each waive any provision of law that renders any provision  hereof
     invalid,  prohibited or unenforceable  in any respect.  If any provision of
     this  Option  is held to be  unenforceable  for any  reason,  it  shall  be
     adjusted rather than voided, if possible, in order to achieve the intent of
     the parties to the extent possible.

5.   Adjustments.  Upon any extraordinary dividend, stock split, stock dividend,
     issuance  of  any  targeted  stock,  recapitalization,  warrant  or  rights
     issuance or combination,  exchange or reclassification  with respect to any
     outstanding class or series of Stock, or  consolidation,  merger or sale of
     all or substantially all of the assets of the Company,  the Committee shall
     cause appropriate adjustments to be made to the terms of this Award.


ACKNOWLEDGED                                   AGRIBRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
AND ACCEPTED:


___________________________                    BY:  ____________________________
Optionee                                            David R. Wenzel
                                                    Chief Financial Officer
___________________________
Date