<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                          AMENDMENT TO PRIOR AGREEMENT

                                     BETWEEN

                              SANDERSON FARMS, INC.
                          (McCOMB PRODUCTION DIVISION)

                                       AND

             UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS, LOCAL 1529, AFL-CIO

                                 AFFILIATED WITH

                       UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS
                          INTERNATIONAL UNION, AFL-CIO

                        JULY 1, 2002 - DECEMBER 31, 2004

<PAGE>

                          AMENDMENT TO PRIOR AGREEMENT

         This Amendment to Agreement is effective the fourth day of January,
2004, by and between SANDERSON FARMS, INC. (PRODUCTION DIVISION) (hereinafter
referred to as "Company"), and United Food and Commercial Workers, Local Union
1529 (hereinafter referred to as the "Union"), and provides as follows:

                                       1.

         The purpose of this Amendment to Agreement is to change portions of the
existing Agreement between the Company and Union, as modified by Amendment dated
August 22, 2003, covering the bargaining unit of employees of the Company at its
Fernwood Mississippi Feed Mill. It shall be attached thereto and made a part of
that Agreement.

                                       2.

         Wages shall be paid as provided in Appendix A attached hereto and made
a part of this Amendment to Agreement.

         In all other respects, the existing Agreement between the parties, as
entered into and signed on the 16th day of July, 2002, and as amended on August
22, 2003, shall remain in full force and effect.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto signed their names this
26th day of January, 2004.

SANDERSON FARMS, INC.                       UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL
(McCOMB PRODUCTION DIVISION)                WORKERS, LOCAL 1529, AFL-CIO

/s/Doug Creel                               /s/Kevin L. Smith
---------------------------                 -----------------------------
/s/Grady Cutrer                             /s/Rick Slayton
---------------------------                 -----------------------------
                                            /s/Brian K. White
                                            -----------------------------
                                            /s/Herbert May
                                            -----------------------------

<PAGE>

                                  APPENDIX "A"

                                  WAGE SCHEDULE

                            EFFECTIVE JANUARY 4, 2004

                                    FEED MILL
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
Master Maintenance                             $  12.70
Unloader - Mill                                $  10.00
Control Room Technician                        $  10.00
Utility - Mill                                 $   9.10
</TABLE>


         Newly hired employees shall receive a training rate of $6.55 per hour,
which shall increase as follows: after 60 days, $7.65; after 6 months, $8.25;
and, after one year, the amount shown above. Newly hired employees in premium
classifications shall receive the rate of that classification when the employee
demonstrates the ability to perform satisfactorily all the duties of the job.

                                FEED MILL DRIVERS

Payment by Load and Mileage

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          By Mile
                                          Round trip miles
<S>                            <C>        <C>                  <C>
Load
     Per Trip                  $ 13.50        -  to  30        0.2603
     Per Trip - Split          $ 15.50       31  to  60        0.2476
                                             61  to  90        0.2360
                                             91  to 120        0.2256
                                            121  to 150        0.2207
                                            151  to 180        0.2160
                                            181 and above      0.2115
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
Reclaim Driver                                                $11.05
Holiday, Vacation, Funeral Leave                              $11.55
Downtime (when downtime event exceeds one hour)               $10.10
Training rate (until driver reaches incentive or end
   of probation, whichever is sooner)                         $10.10
Seniority Pay: Load/Mile Pay - Additional (after 5 years)     $  .02 per mile
Seniority Pay: Hourly Pay - Additional (after 5 years)        $  .50 per hour
</TABLE>