Pension, Postretirement, and Postemployement Obligations

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Pension Postretirement And Postemployment Defined Benefit Plans [Abstract]

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

PENSION, POSTRETIREMENT AND POSTEMPLOYMENT DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS

We have several noncontributory defined benefit pension plans that together cover selected employees. Benefits under the plans were generally based on salary and years of service. Effective in 2012, all benefits are frozen and no additional benefits are being accrued. Our liability and related expense for benefits under the plans are recorded over the service period of active employees based upon annual actuarial calculations. Plan funding strategies are influenced by government regulations. Plan assets consist primarily of domestic and foreign corporate equity securities, government and corporate bonds, and cash.

In addition, we provide retiree medical and life insurance benefits under postretirement plans at several of our operating locations. The level and adjustment of participant contributions vary depending on the specific plan. In addition, PD LLC provides postemployment disability benefits to certain employee groups prior to retirement. Our liability and related expense for benefits under the postretirement plans are recorded over the service period of active employees based upon annual actuarial calculations. We accrue postemployment disability benefits when it becomes probable that such benefits will be paid and when sufficient information exists to make reasonable estimates of the amounts to be paid. Plan assets may also be used to fund medical costs of certain active employees.

We use a fiscal year end measurement date for all of our pension and postretirement medical plan obligations.

The net periodic cost (benefit) components of our pension and postretirement medical plans are as follows:

PENSION PLANS	13 Weeks Ended				26 Weeks Ended
(Thousands of Dollars)	March 31 2013		March 25 2012		March 31 2013		March 25 2012
Service cost for benefits earned during the period	54		7		108		14
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	1,882		1,994		3,764		3,988
Expected return on plan assets	(2,459	)	(2,223	)	(4,918	)	(4,446	)
Amortization of net loss	572		593		1,144		1,186
Amortization of prior service benefit	(34	)	(34	)	(68	)	(68	)
	15		337		30		674
POSTRETIREMENT MEDICAL PLANS	13 Weeks Ended				26 Weeks Ended
(Thousands of Dollars)	March 31 2013		March 25 2012		March 31 2013		March 25 2012
Service cost for benefits earned during the period	182		182		364		364
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	281		277		562		554
Expected return on plan assets	(368	)	(532	)	(736	)	(1,064	)
Amortization of net gain	(331	)	(613	)	(662	)	(1,226	)
Amortization of prior service benefit	(365	)	(365	)	(730	)	(730	)
	(601	)	(1,051	)	(1,202	)	(2,102	)

Based on our forecast at March 31, 2013, we expect to contribute $5,000,000 to our pension plans for the remainder of 2013. Based on our forecast at March 31, 2013, we do not expect to make significant contributions to our postretirement plans for the remainder of 2013.