EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS [Abstract]

EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS

6.           EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS

The components of net periodic benefit cost for Employers Mutual's pension and postretirement benefit plans is as follows:

	Three months ended March 31,
	2013			2012
Pension plans:
Service cost	$	3,425,478		$	3,369,584
Interest cost		1,910,241			2,200,125
Expected return on plan assets		(4,287,616	)		(3,731,361	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss		1,466,085			1,668,760
Amortization of prior service cost		12,582			72,788
Net periodic pension benefit cost	$	2,526,770		$	3,579,896
Postretirement benefit plans:
Service cost	$	1,574,979		$	1,537,530
Interest cost		1,542,971			1,634,210
Expected return on plan assets		(907,750	)		(804,794	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss		923,505			1,002,154
Amortization of prior service credit		(622,781	)		(532,814	)
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost	$	2,510,924		$	2,836,286

Net periodic pension benefit cost allocated to the Company amounted to $781,531 and $1,099,398 for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  Net periodic postretirement benefit cost allocated to the Company amounted to $727,946 and $821,796 for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The Company's share of Employers Mutual's 2013 planned contributions to the pension plan and the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust, if made, will be approximately $4,500,000 and $1,200,000, respectively.