Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.3(a)

                                 March 25, 1999

Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated
6606 West Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23230
Attention: Jonathan A. Hawkins
        Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

               Re: Consent

Gentlemen:

     Reference is made to the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of January
12, 1999, among Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated, a Virginia
agricultural cooperative corporation (the "Company"), CoBank, ACB in its
individual capacity ("CoBank"), as Bank and in its capacity as Administrative
Agent and Documentation Agent, First Union National Bank ("First Union"), as
Bank and in its capacity as Syndication Agent, NationsBank, N.A.
("NationsBank"), as Bank and in its capacity as Syndication Agent, Nationsbanc
Montgomery Securities LLC, in its capacity as Lead Arranger, and FMB Bank, as
Bank, Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., "Rabobank
Nederland", New York Branch ("Rabobank"), as Bank, Banque Nationale de Paris
(Chicago Branch), as Bank, Crestar Bank, as Bank and in its capacity as Co-
Agent, DG Bank Deutsche Genossenschaftsbank AG Cayman Islands Branch, as Bank,
and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Bank and in its capacity as Co-Agent, as amended by
that certain First Amendment to Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of February
3, 1999 (as so amended, the "Credit Agreement"). Capitalized terms used herein
and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit
Agreement.

     The Company has indicated that it will enter into (i) the Amendment No.2 to
the Bridge Loan Agreement dated as of March     , 1999, by and among the
                                            ----
Company, NationsBank, N.A., as administrative agent, and First Union National
Bank and CoBank, as co-agents, substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A (the "Second Amendment"), pursuant to which, among other things, the
---------
maturity date of the term loan made by the lenders thereunder shall be extended
from April 7, 1999 to October 8, 1999, (ii) an amendment to the GoldKist
Commitment Letter dated March 25, 1999 by and between the Company and Gold Kist
Inc., substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "GoldKist
                                                   ---------
Commitment Letter Amendment"), pursuant to which, among other things, the
obligation of GoldKist thereunder to purchase Junior Preferred Securities shall
be extended from April 2, 1999 to October 5, 1999 and the payment of the
purchase price for any Junior Preferred Securities shall be required to be made
directly to NationsBank in repayment of the outstanding principal amount under
the Bridge Loan Agreement, and (iii) a collateral assignment of rights under the
Rabobank Letter of Credit dated as of March   , 1999 by the Company in favor of
                                            --
NationsBank, N.A., as administrative agent
<PAGE>

Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated
March 25, 1999
Page 2

the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Collateral Assignment"; together
                            ---------
with the Second Amendment and the GoldKist Commitment Letter Amendment referred
to herein collectively as the "Amendment Documents"), pursuant to which, among
other things, the Company's rights to draw under such letter of credit shall be
assigned, and any payments thereunder shall be directed, to NationsBank to repay
the outstanding principal amount under the Bridge Loan Agreement.

     The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and
the Banks that, except for the items described in the next succeeding paragraph
for which a consent has been requested, the execution, delivery and performance
of the Amendment Documents, does not, and when consummated, will not, violate
any term or provision of the Credit Agreement or create a Potential Default or
Event of Default thereunder.

     The Company has requested the written consent of the Administrative Agent
and Requisite Banks to the amendment of the Bridge Loan Agreement and the
GoldKist Commitment Letter and the assignment of the Rabobank Letter of Credit
in accordance with the terms of the Amendment Documents. In reliance upon the
representations and warranties provided by the Company to the Administrative
Agent and Banks by which the Company has requested such consent, the
Administrative Agent and each of the Banks signatory hereto, constituting
Requisite Banks, hereby consents to the amendment of the Bridge Loan Agreement
and the GoldKist Commitment Letter and the assignment of the Rabobank Letter of
Credit in accordance with the terms of the Amendment Documents. The consent in
the immediately preceding sentence applies solely to the Potential Default and
Event of Default under Section 6.01 and clauses (a) and (c) of Section 6.10 of
the Credit Agreement that otherwise would result from the amendment of the
Bridge Loan Agreement and the GoldKist Commitment Letter and the assignment of
the Rabobank Letter of Credit pursuant to the Amendment Documents. The consent
provided for above shall be void ab initio and of no force and effect whatsoever
                            --------------
if the form and substance of the final, fully executed, Amendment Documents are
not substantially the same as the form of such documents attached hereto as

Exhibits A, B and C. Without limiting the foregoing sentence, the Administrative
-------------------
Agent and each of the Banks expressly reserves any and all rights it may have
under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Documents arising out of or in
connection with any Potential Default or Event of Default thereunder and not
specifically waived herein.

     Except as expressly modified by this consent agreement, the terms and
provisions of the Credit Agreement, are hereby ratified and confirmed and shall
continue in full force and effect. Without limiting any conditions to
effectiveness set forth above, the consent provided herein is to be effective
only upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of an execution counterpart of
this consent agreement signed by the Requisite Banks and the Company; and is
conditioned upon the correctness of all representations and warranties made by
the Company herein. This consent
<PAGE>

Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated
March 25, 1999
Page 3

agreement shall be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with the
laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without reference to the conflicts or
choice of law principles thereof.

     Please evidence your acknowledgment of and agreement to the foregoing by
executing this letter below in the place indicated.

                                    Sincerely,

                              COBANK, ACB, as Administrative Agent
                              and Bank

                              /s/ Lori L. O'Flaherty
                              --------------------------------
                              Vice President
                              --------------------------------

Accepted and agreed to as of
the date first written above:

FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Bank

By:     /s/ Eileen McCushard
        ------------------------------

Title:  Vice President
        ------------------------------

NATIONSBANK, N.A., as Bank

By:     /s/ William F. Sweeney
        ------------------------------

Title:  Vice President
        ------------------------------
<PAGE>

Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated
March 25, 1999
Page 4

FMB BANK,
as Bank

By:     /s/ Susan Elliott Benninghoff
        ------------------------------------------

Title:  Susan Elliott Benninghoff, Vice President
        ------------------------------------------

COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-
BOERENLEENBANK B.A., "RABOBANK
NEDERLAND", NEW YORK BRANCH, as Bank

By:     /s/ Michiel V.M. Vandervoort
        ------------------------------------------

Title:  Michiel V.M. Vandervoort
        Vice President
        ------------------------------------------

By:     /s/ W. Pieter C. Kodde
        ------------------------------------------

        W. Pieter C. Kodde
Title:  Vice President
        ------------------------------------------

BANQUE NATIONALE de PARIS
(CHICAGO BRANCH), as Bank

By:     /s/ Arnaud Collin du Bocage
        ------------------------------------------

Title:  Executive Vice President & General Manager
        ------------------------------------------

CRESTAR BANK,
as Bank

By:     /s/
        ------------------------------------------

Title:  Senior Vice President
        ------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated
March 25, 1999
Page 5

DG BANK DEUTSCHE GENOSSENSCHAFTSBANK
AG CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Bank

By:     /s/ Kurt A. Morris
        -----------------------------------

        Kurt A. Morris
Title:  Vice President
        -----------------------------------

By:     /s/ James I. Yager
        -----------------------------------

Title:  James I. Yager, CPA
        -----------------------------------
        Vice President

WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.,
as Bank

By:     /s/ Christopher Barin
        -----------------------------------

Title:  Senior Vice President
        -----------------------------------

SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED

By:     /s/ Jonathan Hawkins
        -----------------------------------

Title:  Senior Vice President and Treasurer
        -----------------------------------
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A
                                    ---------

[Bridge Loan Amendment to be attached]

                                    EXHIBIT B
                                    ---------

[GoldKist Commitment Letter Amendment to be attached]

                                    EXHIBIT C
                                    ---------

[Rabobank Letter of Credit Amendment to be attached]
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                                 AMENDMENT NO 2

          THIS AMENDMENT NO.2 (the "Amendment"), dated as of March    l999, to
                                    ---------                      --
the Credit Agreement referenced below, is by and among SOUTHERN STATES
COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED, a Virginia agricultural cooperative corporation, the
lenders identified herein, NATIONSBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and FIRST
UNION NATIONAL BANK and COBANK, ACB, as Co-Agents.  Terms used but not otherwise
defined shall have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.

                               WITNESSETH

          WHEREAS, a $225 million credit facility has been established in favor
of Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated, a Virginia agricultural
cooperative corporation (the "Borrower"), pursuant to the terms of that Term
                              --------
Loan Credit Agreement dated as of October 9, 1998 (as amended and modified, the
"Credit Agreement") among the Borrower, the Lenders identified therein,
 ----------------
NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and First Union National Bank and
CoBank, ACB, as Co-Agents;

          WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested certain modifications to the
Credit Agreement;

          WHEREAS, such modifications require the consent of all the Lenders;

          WHEREAS, the Lenders have consented to the requested modifications on
the terms and conditions set forth herein;

          NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

     1.   The Credit Agreement is amended in the following respects:

     1.1  In Section 1.1, the following definitions are amended or added to read
          as follows:

               "Applicable Percentage" means, for any day, (a) in the case of
                ---------------------
          Eurodollar Loans, a per annum rate equal to 0.50% and (b) in the case
          of Base Rate Loans, a per annum rate equal to 0.0%;  provided,
                                                               --------
          however, upon the occurrence of a default with respect to any
          -------
          financial covenant under the Michigan Livestock Credit Agreement or
          the Statesman Financial Corporation Credit Agreement, the Applicable
          Percentage shall be, for any day, (a) in the case of Eurodollar Loans,
          a per annum rate equal to 1.00% and (b) in the case of Base Rate
          Loans, a per annum rate equal to 0.0%.

               "Debt Transaction" means, with respect to the Borrower or any of
                ----------------
          its
<PAGE>

          Subsidiaries, any sale, issuance placement of Funded Debt, whether or
          not evidenced by promissory note or other written evidence of
          indebtedness.

               "GoldKist Commitment Letter" means that certain commitment letter
                --------------------------
          dated as October 13, 1998 between GoldKist and the Borrower relating
          to the commitment of GoldKist to purchase up to $100 million of
          preferred securities from the Borrower, as amended and restated from
          time to time.

               "Michigan Livestock Credit Agreement" means that certain
                -----------------------------------
          Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 6,1998 among Michigan
          Livestock Credit Corporation, the banks party thereto, and CoBank,
          ACB, as agent for the Banks, as amended and restated from time to
          time.

               "Revolving Credit Agreement" means that certain Revolving Credit
                --------------------------
          Agreement dated as of January 12, 1999 by and among the Borrower, the
          banks referred to therein, CoBank, ACB, as Administrative Agent and
          Documentation Agent, First Union National Bank and NationsBank, N.A.,
          as Syndication Agents, Crestar Bank and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Co-
          Agents. and NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC, as Lead Arranger,
          as amended and restated from time to time.

               "Statesman Financial Corporation Credit Agreement" means that
                ------------------------------------------------
          certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of January 12. 1999 by and
          among Statesman Financial Corporation, the banks referred to therein,
          CoBank, ACB, as Administrative Agent and Documentation Agent, First
          Union National Bank and NationsBank, N.A., as Syndication Agents,
          Crestar Bank and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Co-Agents, and NationsBanc
          Montgomery Securities LLC, as Lead Arranger, as amended and restated
          from time to time.

     1.2  In Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement, the definitions of
          "Investment" and "Permitted Liens" are deleted in their entirety.

     1.3  Section 2.1(c) of the Credit Agreement is amended to read as follows:

               (c) Repayment.  The Term Loans shall be duo and payable in full
                   ---------
          on October 8, 1999.

     1.4  Section 6.1 through Section 6.18 of the Credit Agreement are deleted
          in their entirety, and a new Section 6.1. is added to read as follows:

               6.1 Incorporation of Covenants from Revolving Credit Agreement.
                   ----------------------------------------------------------
          The affirmative covenants contained in Article V, the negative
          covenants contained in Article VI and the financial covenants
          contained in Article VII, respectively, of the Revolving Credit
          Agreement as in effect on the date of Amendment No. 2 (collectively,
          the "Incorporated Covenants"), together with the related definitions
               ----------------------
          set forth in Section 1.01 of the Revolving Credit Agreement as
<PAGE>

          in effect on the date of Amendment No.2. are incorporated herein by
          reference with the same effect as if stated at length herein; provided
                                                                        --------
          that references therein (a) to "this Agreement" or "the Credit
          Agreement" shall be deemed to include this Credit Agreement, (b)
          references therein to "Bank" or "Banks" shall be deemed to include the
          Lenders under this Credit Agreement and (c) references to the
          "Administrative Agent" shall be deemed to include the Administrative
          Agent under this Credit Agreement.  The  Borrower covenants and agrees
          that the Incorporated Covenants shall be as binding on the Borrower as
          if set forth fully herein.

     1.5  A new Section 6.2 is added to read as follows:

               6.2 Placement of Preferred Securities. If the Borrower has not
                   ---------------------------------
          issued preferred securities in a registered public offering or in Rule
          144A transaction by September 15, 1999, the Borrower shall immediately
          begin the process required to complete the issuance and delivery of
          preferred securities to GoldKist pursuant to the GoldKist Commitment
          Letter. The Administrative Agent shall have the right to review and
          approve the process.

     1.6  Clause (c) of Section 7.1 of the Credit Agreement is amended to read
          as follows:

               (c) failure to observe or comply with (A) the financial covenants
          in Article VII of the Incorporated Covenants or the negative covenants
          in Article VI of the Incorporated Covenants (except in the case of
          negative covenants contained in Article VI of the Incorporated
          Covenants, those defaults which may occur or arise other than on
          account of or by affirmative or intentional act of the Borrower or
          Subsidiary or event or condition which the Borrower shall with
          know1edge permit to exist, all of which shall be subject to the
          provisions of clause (B) hereof), inclusive, or (B) any of the other
          covenants or provisions contained herein or in any other Credit
          Document and such failure to observe or comply shall continue for a
          period of 30 days after the earlier of actual knowledge of a
          responsible officer of the Borrower or notice to the Borrower thereof,
          or

     2.   This Amendment shall be effective upon satisfaction of the following
          conditions precedent:

               (a) Execution of this Amendment by the Borrower and all of the
          Lenders;

               (b) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of an opinion of counsel
          to the Borrower relating to this Amendment and the transactions
          contemplated herein, which opinion shall be in form and substance
          satisfactory to the Lenders;

               (c) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of an opinion of counsel
          to GoldKist relating to the GoldKist Commitment Letter, which opinion
          shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;
<PAGE>

               (d) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a certified copy of an
          amendment to the GoldKist Commitment Letter which shall (i) extend the
          Purchase Date (as defined in the GoldKist Commitment Letter) to
          October 5, 1999 and (ii) provide that any payment made thereunder in
          respect of the Preferred Securities (as defined in the GoldKist
          Commitment Letter) shall be made directly to the Administrative Agent,
          which amendment shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the
          Lenders;

               (e) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of  certified copy of the
          consent to the GoldKist Commitment Letter by (i) CoBank, ACB, (ii)
          Prudential Insurance Company of America and (iii) RaboBank, as Agent
          under that certain Credit Agreement dated as of August 4, 1998 by and
          among GoldKist, as borrower, and various banks and lending
          institutions, as lenders;

               (f) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a certified copy of an
          amendment to the Revolving Credit Agreement to allow for this
          Amendment, the amendment to the GoldKist Commitment Letter and the
          collateral assignment of the RaboBank Letter of Credit, which
          amendment shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

               (g) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of certified copy of the
          Michigan Livestock Credit Agreement and all amendments thereto (which
          shall include an amendment extending the termination date to at least
          October 8, 1999), which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to
          the Lenders;

               (h) Execution by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and
          acknowledgment thereof by RaboBank, of a collateral assignment of the
          Letter of Credit to the Administrative Agent, which shall be in form
          and substance satisfactory to the Lenders;

               (i) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) the original
          RaboBank Letter of Credit and (ii) an undated draw certificate
          executed by Southern States relating to the RaboBank Letter of Credit;
          and

               (j) Receipt by the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit
          of the Lenders, of a fee equal to 5 basis points (0.05%) on aggregate
          outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan.

     3.   Except as modified hereby, all of the terms and provisions of the
          Credit Agreement (including Schedules and Exhibits) shall remain in
          force and effect.

     4.   The Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses of the
          Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution and
          delivery of this Amendment, including without limitation the
          reasonable fees and expenses of Moore & Van Allen, PLLC.
<PAGE>

     5.   This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
          which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original and
          it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Amendment to produce
          or account for more than one such counterpart.

     6.   This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made under, and for
          all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the
          Commonwealth of Virginia.

                  [Remainder of Page intentionally Left Blank]
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a
counterpart of this Amendment to be duly executed end delivered as of the date
first above written.

BORROWER:           SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED,
--------            a Virginia agricultural cooperative corporation

                    By:__________________________________________
                    Name:
                    Title:

LENDERS:            NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
-------             as Administrative Agent and as a Lender

                    By:__________________________________________
                    Name:
                    Title:

                    FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
                    as Co-Agent and as a Lender

                    By:__________________________________________
                    Name:
                    Title:

                    COBANK, ACB,
                    as Co-Agent and as a Lender

                    By:__________________________________________
                    Name:
                    Title:
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                                                                   Draft 3/10/99

                              [GoldKist stationery]

                                 March __, 1999

Southern States Cooperative, Inc.
6606 West Broad Street
P. O. Box 26234
Richmond, Virginia 23260

             Amendment to Commitment Letter dated October 13, 1998
             -----------------------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          This letter will serve to amend our commitment letter to you dated
October 13, 1998, and the Terms Sheet attached thereto, in the following
respects:

          1.   The purchase date specified in section 1 of the Terms Sheet shall
               be amended to delete "April 2, 1999" and to insert in lieu
               thereof  "[October 1], 1999"; and the words "175 days after
               October 9, 1998" shall be amended to read "[358]" days after
               October 9, 1998."

          2.   Payment by GoldKist Inc. for any securities of Southern States
               Cooperative, Inc. ("Southern States") purchased under the
               commitment letter dated October 13, 1998, as amended hereby,
               shall [if requested by NationsBank, N.A.] be made directly to
               NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the account of
               Southern States, in order to repay outstanding indebtedness under
               Southern States' Senior Bridge Facilty.
<PAGE>

          3.   The letter of credit issued by Cooperative Centrale Raiffeisen-
               BoerenleenBank, B.A.-"RaboBank Nederland", New York Branch
               ("RaboBank") pursuant to section 4 of the Terms Sheet shall, with
               the consent of RaboBank, be amended to make Southern States'
               rights thereunder assignable to NationsBank, N.A., as
               Administrative Agent, and for payment thereunder to be made, [if
               requested by NationsBank, N.A.,] directly to NationsBank, N.A.,
               as Administrative Agent, for the account of Southern States.

          In all other respects, the commitment letter dated October 13, 1998,
and the Terms Sheet attached thereto, shall remain unchanged and in full force
and effect.

                              Sincerely,

                              --------------------------------
                              M.A. Stimpert
                              Senior Vice President

Agreed to by Southern States Cooperative, Inc.

----------------------------------------------
Wayne A. Boutwell
President and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA                        COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS
                                                UNDER LETTER OF CREDIT AND
CITY OF RICHMOND                                DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY

          THIS COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS UNDER LETTER OF CREDIT AND
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY (this "Assignment") is made as of March   , 1999, by
                                 ----------                       --
SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED, a Virginia agricultural cooperative
corporation (the "Assignor" or "Southern States"), to NATIONSBANK, N.A., as
                  --------      ---------------
administrative agent for the holders of the Secured Obligations (the "Assignee"
                                                                      --------
or the "Administrative Agent").
        --------------------

                                  WITNESSETH

          WHEREAS, Southern States agreed to purchase the GoldKist Inputs
Business pursuant to the terms of that Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of July
23, 1998 (the  "GKIB Purchase Agreement") between Southern States, as purchaser,
                ------------------------
and GoldKist, Inc. ("GoldKist"), as seller;
                     --------

          WHEREAS, a $225 million bridge loan facility (the "Bridge Loan" or
                                                             -----------
"Bridge Loan Facility") was established in favor of Southern. States pursuant to
------- -------------
the terms of that Credit Agreement dated as of October 8,1998 (as amended and
modified, the "Bridge Credit Agreement") among Southern States, the lenders
               -----------------------
identified therein (the "Lenders") and NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative
                         -------
Agent, for the purpose of, among other things, financing the acquisition of' the
GoldKist Inputs Business pursuant to the GKIB Purchase Agreement;

          WHEREAS, in order to facilitate establishment of the Bridge Loan
Facility and the sale of the GoldKist Inputs Business, GoldKist agreed pursuant
to that Commitment Letter dated as of October 13, 1998 (as amended and modified,
the "GoldKist Preferred Securities Purchase Agreement") between Southern States
     ------------------------------------------------
and GoldKist to purchase from Southern States up to $100 million in preferred
securities in the event Southern States were not so issue at least $100 million
in publicly offered or privately placed preferred securities;

          WHEREAS, the purchase obligations of GoldKist under the GoldKist
Preferred Securities Purchase Agreement were secured by an irrevocable standby
letter of credit no. SB 14112 dated October 13, 1998 issued by Cooperative
Centrale Raiffeisen-BoerenleenBank, B.A. - "RaboBank Nederland", New York Branch
(as amended and modified, the "Rabobank Letter of Credit') to Southern States,
                               ------------------ -------
as beneficiary;

          WHEREAS, Southern States has requested extension of the maturity date
of the Bridge Loan;
<PAGE>

          WHEREAS, the lenders under the Bridge Loan Facility have required this
Collateral Assignment, among other things, as a condition to the extension of
the maturity date of the Bridge Loan;

          NOW, THEREFORE, IN ORDER to secure the payment of the loans and
obligations owing under the Bridge Credit Agreement and the other Credit
Documents as referenced and defined therein (including interest accruing after
bankruptcy or insolvency, regardless of whether such interest is allowed as a
claim in the bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding) (collectively, the "Secured
                                                                      -------
Obligations") and as an essential and integral part of the security therefor,
-----------
and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Assignor does
hereby immediately and absolutely sell, assign, transfer and set over to the
Administrative Agent, and its successors and assigns in such capacity, the
rights, interests and privileges which the Assignor has and may have in the
Rabobank Letter of Credit, any additional letters of credit issued in
replacement thereof or as additional security for the purchase obligations of
GoldKist under the GoldKist Preferred Securities Purchase Agreement, as such
additional letters of credit may be amended, modified, extended, renewed or
replaced from time to time (collectively, the "Subject Letters of Credit"), with
                                               -------------------------
all proceeds, issues, income  and profits due and becoming due therefrom, and
neither the acceptance of this Assignment nor collection of sums due under the
Subject Letters of Credit shall constitute a waiver of any rights of the holders
of the Secured Obligations under the Bridge Credit Agreement or other operative
documents relating thereto.

          1.  Payment of Proceeds Under the Subject Letters of Credit.  For so
              -------------------------------------------------------
long as this Assignment shall be in effect, any and all proceeds of any drawings
under the Subject Letters of Credit will be paid directly to the Administrative
Agent as follows (or pursuant to alternative written payment instructions
provided by the Administrative Agent to the issuer of the Subject Letter of
Credit):

                    NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative Agent
                    Charlotte, North Carolina
                    ABA no:
                    Acct. no.:
                    Attn:  Agency Services
                    Phone:  (312) 828-
                    Fax:  (312) 828-
                    Reference: Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated

The Assignor will give notice to the issuers of the Subject Letters of Credit of
the payment instructions and other provisions of this Assignment and take such
other action as necessary or appropriate to give effect hereto.

          2.  Durable Power of Attorney.  The Assignor hereby grants to the
              -------------------------
Administrative Agent a durable power of attorney, and hereby designates the
Administrative
<PAGE>

Agent as its attorney-in-fact, to execute and deliver, for and on behalf of the
Assignor, all drafts, draw certificates, instruments, affidavits and
certificates as may be necessary or convenient to exercise the Assignor's rights
under the Letter of Credit. This durable power of attorney is coupled with an
interest and shall be irrevocable without the prior written consent of' the
Administrative Agent. So long as no Event of Default (as defined in the Bridge
Credit Agreement) shall exist under any of the Credit Documents, however, the
Administrative Agent agrees that it will not exercise this durable power of
attorney.

          3.  Delivery of' RaboBank Letter of Credit.  Concurrently with the
              --------------------------------------
Assignor's execution of this Assignment, the Assignor has delivered the original
RaboBank Letter of Credit to the Administrative Agent.

          4.  Indemnity.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall
              ---------
be obligated to perform or discharge any obligation or duty to be performed or
discharged by the Assignor under the Subject Letters of Credit, and the Assignor
hereby agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for, and to
save them harmless from, any liability arising from the exercise of any rights
under the Subject Letter of Credit or from this Assignment, except in the event
of the Administrative Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct
(specifically including the Administrative Agent's failure to keep the Letter of
Credit in its possession).

          5.  Representations and Warranties of the Assignor.  The Assignor
              ----------------------------------------------
represents and warrants that (i) the Assignor has full right and title to assign
to the Administrative Agent its rights under the RaboBank Letter of Credit and
any payments, income, proceeds and profits due or to become due thereunder; (ii)
no prior assignment of any interest in the RaboBank Letter of Credit has been
made; (iii) the RaboBank Letter of Credit is in full force and effect, and (iv)
there are no existing defaults under the provisions of the RaboBank Letter of
Credit.

          6.  Covenants of the Assignor.  The Assignor covenants and agrees that
              -------------------------
(i) the Assignor shall promptly (but in any event within three (3) Business Days
after receipt thereof by the Borrower) deliver to the Administrative Agent any
additional letters of credit issued in replacement of the RaboBank Letter of
Credit or issued as additional security for the purchase obligations of GoldKist
under the GoldKist Preferred Securities Purchase  Agreement; and (ii) without
the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Assignor will not
hereafter cancel, surrender, terminate, or draw upon the Subject Letters of
Credit or materially change, alter or modify the same or execute any other
assignment of the Assignor's rights under the Subject Letters of Credit.

          7.  Governing Law.  This Assignment shall be governed by, and
              -------------
construed in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

          8.  Duration of Assignment.  This Assignment shall remain in full
              ----------------------
force and effect as until the Secured Obligations are paid in full and all
commitments relating thereto are terminated.
<PAGE>

          9.  Security Agreement.  It is understood and acknowledged by the
              ------------------
parties that this Assignment shall constitute a security agreement as defined by
the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the Commonwealth of Virginia granting a
security interest in all of Assignor's right, title and interest, whether now
existing or hereafter arising, in the Subject Letters of Credit to secure
repayment and performance of all of the Assignor's obligations to the
Administrative Agent including, without limitation, repayment of the Secured
Obligations and compliance with the Assignor's obligations under the Bridge
Credit Agreement.

          10.  Further Assurances.  The Assignor shall take such further actions
               ------------------
and shall execute such other documents as may be necessary or as may be required
by the Administrative Agent to protect or perfect the liens and security
interests created or intended to be created hereby and otherwise to complete the
transactions contemplated hereby.

                  [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Assignor has caused this Assignment to be duly
executed under seal by authority duly given as of the date first above written.

                    SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED
                    a Virginia agricultural cooperative corporation

                    By:________________________________________
                    Name:
                    Title:

ATTEST:

By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:

[CORPORATE SEAL]

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

NATIONSBANK, N.A.
in its capacity as Administrative Agent

By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:

ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

COOPERATIVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN - BOERENLEENBANK B.A. - "RABOBANK NEDERLAND",
NEW YORK BRANCH, in its capacity as issuer of the RaboBank Letter of Credit

By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

COUNTY OF ______________________

          On this, the _________day of March, 1999, before me, the subscriber, a
notary public in and for the State and County aforesaid, personally appeared
_____________________, __________________________ of Southern States
Cooperative, Incorporated, a Virginia agricultural cooperative corporation, who
acknowledged that he, as such ___________________, being authorized to do so,
executed the foregoing instrument on behalf of said corporation for the purposes
therein contained.

          WITNESS my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid.

                                      _______________________________
                                              Notary Public

My Commission Expires:_____________________________<PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.3(b)

                SECOND AMENDMENT TO REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
                             AND CONSENT AGREEMENT

     THIS SECOND AMENDMENT TO REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment"), is
dated as of December 22, 1999 by and among SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE,
INCORPORATED, a Virginia agricultural cooperative corporation (the "Company"),
the financial institutions listed on the signature pages hereto as banks (the
"Banks"), and COBANK, ACB, as administrative agent for the Banks (in such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent").

                                   RECITALS

     WHEREAS, the Banks, the Administrative Agent and the Company are parties to
that certain Revolving Credit Agreement entered into as of January 12, 1999, as
amended by that certain First Amendment to Revolving Credit Agreement dated as
of February 3, 1999 (as so amended, the "Existing Credit Agreement"; and as
amended by this Amendment, the "Amended Credit Agreement"; capitalized terms
used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in the Existing Credit Agreement);

     WHEREAS, the Company, the Banks and the Administrative Agent desire to
enter into this Amendment to, subject to certain terms and conditions contained
herein, amend certain provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, the Company and GoldKist have resolved certain discrepancies in
the final purchase price of the purchased assets under the GoldKist Acquisition
Agreement pursuant to which among other things, (i) GoldKist has agreed to
repurchase from the Company certain accounts receivable, and (ii) subject to the
consent of the Banks and the Administrative Agent, GoldKist and the Company have
agreed that the indemnification provisions set forth in Section 15.3(b) of the
GoldKist Acquisition Agreement will be amended as provided in the Amendment to
the GoldKist Acquisition Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "GoldKist
                                                      ---------
Amendment").

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements,
covenants and provisions herein contained and for TEN DOLLARS ($10.00) and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
<PAGE>

SECTION 1.   AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING CREDIT AGREEMENT
             ---------------------------------------

     Subject to the satisfaction of the condition precedent set forth in Section
4 of this Amendment, the Company, the Banks and the Administrative Agent hereby
agree that the Existing Credit Agreement be, and it hereby is, amended as
follows:

     1.1  General.   Upon and after the date hereof, all references to the
          -------
Existing Credit Agreement in that document or in any other Loan Document shall
mean the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby. Except as expressly
provided herein, the execution and delivery of this Amendment do not and will
not amend, modify or supplement any provision of, or constitute a consent to or
a waiver of any noncompliance with the provisions of, the Existing Credit
Agreement, and, except as specifically provided in this Amendment, the Existing
Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified
and confirmed.

     1.2  Amendment to Section 1.01.  Section 1.01 of the Existing Credit
          -------------------------
Agreement is amended by amending and restating the definitions of "Consolidated
Cash Flow" and "Permitted Investments" set forth therein to read in their
entirety as follows:

     "Consolidated Cash Flow" shall mean, for any period, the sum of:

          (a)  savings before income taxes of the Company and its consolidated
     Subsidiaries, undistributed (loss) earnings in Statesman Financial
     Corporation and distributions on capital securities, calculated in
     accordance with GAAP; plus
                           ----

          (b)  undistributed (loss) earnings in Statesman Financial Corporation,
     net of income taxes, calculated in accordance with GAAP; plus
                                                              ----

          (c)  Consolidated Interest Expense paid or accrued during such period,
     to the extent and only to the extent that such amount was deducted in
     determining item (a) above, calculated in accordance with GAAP; plus
                                                                     ----

          (d)  the aggregate amount of Depreciation and amortization during such
     period, to the extent and only to the extent that such amount was deducted
     in determining item (a) above, calculated in accordance with GAAP; minus
                                                                        -----

          (e)  one-time gains of greater than $1,000,000 during such period;
     minus
     -----

          (f)  extraordinary income during such period, to the extent and only
     to the extent that such income was included in determining item (a) above,
     calculated in accordance with GAAP.

                                       2
<PAGE>

          "Permitted Investments" means (i) cash and Cash Equivalents, (ii)
     investments and loans existing on the Closing Date identified on Schedule
                                                                      --------
     6.04, (iii) investments, loans and advances in wholly-owned Subsidiaries of
     ----
     the Company, (iv) loans and advances to officers and directors (other than
     loans described in clause (ix)) in an aggregate amount up to $2,000,000 at
     any time outstanding, (v) loans and investments made pursuant to the
     requirements of the Financing Services and Contributed Capital Agreements,
     (vi) investments in CoBank, (vii) investments in Southern States Insurance
     Exchange, Inc., suppliers or lenders, in each case, solely as a result of
     volume or patronage refunds arising in the ordinary course of business,
     (viii) investments in or received from customers in connection with
     collection of amounts owing to the Company or its Subsidiaries so long as
     the aggregate amount of all such investments does not at any time exceed
     $7,500,000, (ix) loans to customers in the ordinary course of business, (x)
     investments by the Company in a Receivables Entity in connection with a
     Qualified Receivables Transaction; provided, however, that any investment
                                        --------- -------
     in any such Receivables Entity is in the form of a Purchase Money Note, or
     any equity interest or interests in accounts receivable and related assets
     generated by the Company and transferred to such Receivables Entity in
     connection with a Qualified Receivables Transactions and (x) other
     investments made after the Closing Date so long as (a) the amount of any
     single such investment under this clause (x) does not at any time exceed
     $2,000,000, and (b) after giving effect to such proposed investment, the
     aggregate amount of all such investments under this clause (x) does not
     exceed $5,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Company.

     1.3  Amendment to Section 6.06.  Section 6.06 of the Existing Credit
          -------------------------
Agreement is amended by amending and restating such section in its entirety as
follows:

     SECTION 6.06.  Transactions with Affiliates.  Enter into any transaction,
including, without limitation, the making of any Investments or Guarantees, the
purchase, sale, or exchange of property or the rendering of any service, with
any Affiliate, except for (1) transactions in the ordinary course of business of
the Company with one or more of Statesman, MLCC and Wetsel, Inc., and pursuant
to the reasonable requirements of its business and upon fair and reasonable
terms no less favorable to the Company than would obtain in a comparable arm's-
length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate; (2) transactions involving
the purchase or placement of insurance with Southern States Insurance Exchange,
Inc.; and (3) purchases or sales of services, products or other assets from or
to Affiliates in the ordinary course of business of the Company, each of which
purchases or sales is upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the
Company than would obtain in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a Person
not an Affiliate and does not result in a loss to the Company on any such
purchase or sale; provided, however, the Company may engage in transactions in
                  -----------------
the normal course of business as contemplated by the Financing Services and
Contributed Capital Agreements.

SECTION 2.  CONSENT
            -------

     Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in
Section 4 of this Amendment and in reliance upon the representations and
warranties provided by the Company to the Administrative Agent and Banks by
which the Company has requested such consent, the Administrative Agent and each
of the Banks signatory hereto, constituting Requisite Banks,

                                       3
<PAGE>

hereby grant their consent, in accordance with Section 6.10 (a) of the Existing
Credit Agreement, to the Company entering into the GoldKist Amendment, provided,
                                                                       --------
however, that such consent shall be deemed void ab initio and of no force or
-------
effect whatsoever unless the form and substance of the final fully executed
GoldKist Amendment is substantially the same as set forth in Exhibit A attached
                                                             ---------
hereto.

SECTION 3.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
            --------------- --- ----------

     In order to induce the Administrative Agent and the Banks to enter into
this Amendment, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative
Agent and the Banks as follows:

     3.1  Authorization of Amendment, Etc.  The Company has the right and power,
          -------------------------------
and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance by it of this Amendment in accordance with its terms.  This
Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and is a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms.

     3.2  Compliance of Amendment with Laws, Etc.  The execution, delivery and
          --------------------------------------
performance of this Amendment in accordance with its terms do not and will not,
by the passage of time, the giving of notice or otherwise,

          (a)  require any governmental approval or violate any applicable law
     relating to the Company;

          (b)  conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default
     under the articles or certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the
     Company, any material provisions of any indenture, agreement or other
     instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any
     of its properties may be bound or any governmental approval relating to the
     Company, or

          (c)  result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon
     or with respect to any property now owned or hereafter acquired by the
     Company.

     3.3  Representations in Credit Agreement.  Immediately prior to the
          -----------------------------------
effectiveness of this Amendment, all of the representations set forth in the
Existing Credit Agreement were accurate in all material respects as of the date
hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly
relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties
shall have been true and correct on and as of such date. After giving effect to
this Amendment, all of the representations and warranties set forth in the
Amended Credit Agreement, will be accurate in all material respects as of the
date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties
expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and
warranties shall have been true and correct on and as of such date.

                                       4
<PAGE>

SECTION 4.  CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS
            ---------------------------

     The effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to the satisfaction in full
of each of the following conditions precedent:

     4.1  Executed Loan Documents.  This Amendment shall have been duly
          -----------------------
authorized and executed by the  parties hereto in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, shall be in full force and effect and
no default shall exist hereunder, and the Company and the Banks party hereto
shall have delivered original counterparts hereof to the Administrative Agent.

     4.2  Final GoldKist Amendment.  The Company shall have delivered to the
          ------------------------
Administrative Agent the final, execution copy, of the GoldKist Amendment.

     SECTION 5.  MISCELLANEOUS
                 -------------

     5.1  Counterparts.  This Amendment may be executed by each party to this
          ------------
Amendment upon a separate copy, and in such case one counterpart of this
amendment shall consist of enough of such copies to reflect the signature of all
of the parties to this Amendment.  This Amendment may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and it shall not be
necessary in making proof of this Amendment or  its terms to produce or account
for more than one of such counterparts.

     5.2  Section References.  The references in this Amendment to any section
          ------------------
are, unless otherwise specified, to such section of this Amendment.

     5.3  Construction.  This Amendment is a Loan Document executed pursuant to
          ------------
the Existing Credit Agreement and shall be construed, administered and applied
in accordance with all of the terms and provisions of the Existing Credit
Agreement.

     5.4  Governing Law.  This amendment shall be governed by, construed and
          -------------
enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without
reference to the conflicts or choice of law principles thereof.

     5.5  Successors and Assigns.  This amendment shall be binding upon and
          ----------------------
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns.

     5.6  Effectiveness.  The amendments set forth in Section 1 hereof shall
          -------------
become effective as of the date of this Amendment (and shall not apply to any
period prior to the date of this Amendment), upon the satisfaction of all of the
conditions precedent set forth in Section 4 hereof
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
executed by their respective officers hereunder duly authorized as of the day
and year first written above.

SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE,
INCORPORATED

By: /s/ Leslie T. Newton
    ------------------------------------

Title: VICE PRESIDENT & TREASURER
       ---------------------------------

COBANK, ACB, as Administrative Agent
and Bank

By: /s/ Lori L. O'Flaherty
    ------------------------------------

Title: Vice President
      ----------------------------------

FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Bank

By: /s/ Eileen McCrichard
  --------------------------------------

Title: Vice President
      ----------------------------------

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (successor by merger to
NationsBank, N.A.), as Bank

By: /s/
   -------------------------------------

Title: Principal
      ----------------------------------

<PAGE>

FMB Bank,
as Bank

By: /s/
    ------------------------------------

Title: Vice President
      ----------------------------------

COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-
BOERENLEENBANK B.A., "RABOBANK
NEDERLAND", NEW YORK BRANCH, as Bank

By: /s/
   -------------------------------------

Title: Vice President
      ----------------------------------

By: /s/ Edward Peyser
   -------------------------------------

Title: Vice President
      ----------------------------------

BANQUE NATIONALE de PARIS
(CHICAGO BRANCH), as Bank

By: /s/
   -------------------------------------

Title: Senior Vice President
      ----------------------------------

CRESTAR BANK,
as Bank

By: /s/ C. Gray Key
   -------------------------------------

Title: Vice President
      ----------------------------------
<PAGE>

DG BANK DEUTSCHE GENOSSENSCHAFTSBANK
AG CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Bank

By: /s/ Kurt A. Morris
  --------------------------------------

Title: Vice President
      ----------------------------------

By: /s/ Eric K. Zimmerman
   -------------------------------------

Title: Assistant Vice President
      ----------------------------------

WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.,
as Bank

By: /s/
   -------------------------------------

Title: Senior Vice President
       ---------------------------------
<PAGE>

                                 AMENDMENT TO
                           ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

          This Agreement made as of the 7 day of September, 1999, by and between
                                        -        ---------
Gold Kist Inc., a Georgia cooperative marketing association ("GK"), and Southern
States Cooperative, Inc., a Virginia agricultural cooperative, a corporation
("Southern States").

                                  WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, GK and Southern States desire to amend the terms of the Asset
Purchase Agreement dated as of July 23, 1998 (the "Agreement") to change the
minimum amount of certain indemnifiable losses for which Gold Kist shall be
liable pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement;

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and obligations contained herein, it is mutually agreed as follows:

1.   The Agreement is incorporated herein by reference and is specifically made
     a part hereof. All provisions, terms, covenants and conditions set forth
     therein shall remain in full force and effect and shall apply to this
     Agreement, except as specifically and expressly modified herein.

2.   GK and Southern States hereby agree that Section 15.3(b) of the Agreement
     shall be amended to read as follows:

     (b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 15.2, Gold Kist shall have
          no liability to indemnify Southern States Indemnified Persons
          hereunder with respect to the matters referenced in clause (iii) of
          Section 15.3(a) above with respect to any individual claim until the
          aggregate amount of Southern States Indemnified Persons' indemnifiable
          losses exceed $25,000 for such claims;
<PAGE>

          provided, however, that if the aggregate amount of any such losses
          with respect to a claim exceeds $25,000, Gold

          Kist shall indemnify Southern States for the entire amount of such
          claim, including the initial $25,000 amount.

3.   This amendment to the Agreement shall be deemed to be effective as of
     October 13, 1998.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this amendment to
the Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                             GOLD KIST INC.

                                             By: /s/ M. A. Stimpert
                                                 --------------------------
                                             Title: Senior Vice President
                                                    -----------------------

                                             SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE, INC.

                                             By:___________________________
                                             Title:________________________

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00001-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00001-of-00352.parquet"}]]