Segment Reporting

6 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2011

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 17. Segment Reporting

          The Company has two segments: alternative energy and real estate. The Company evaluates the performance of each reportable segment based on segment profit. Segment profit excludes income taxes, indirect interest expense, discontinued operations, indirect interest income and certain other items that are included in net income determined in accordance with GAAP. Segment profit includes realized and unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments. The following table summarizes segment and other results and assets (amounts in thousands):

	Three Months Ended July 31,						Six Months Ended July 31,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Net sales and revenue:
Alternative energy	$	73,531		$	64,801		$	154,413		$	135,823
Real estate		320			286			652			536
Total net sales and revenues	$	73,851		$	65,087		$	155,065		$	136,359
Segment gross profit (loss):
Alternative energy	$	952		$	5,333		$	5,730		$	13,795
Real estate		(1,238	)		(299	)		(1,325	)		(373	)
Total gross (loss) profit	$	(286	)	$	5,034		$	4,405		$	13,422

	Three Months Ended July 31,						Six Months Ended July 31,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Segment profit (loss):
Alternative energy	$	2,061		$	2,223		$	10,459		$	10,705
Real estate		(1,295	)		(343	)		(1,440	)		(488	)
Corporate expense		(608	)		(746	)		(1,232	)		(1,450	)
Interest expense		(34	)		(47	)		(76	)		(149	)
Income from synthetic fuel partnerships		2,883			—			2,883			—
Interest income		73			79			215			207
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	$	3,080		$	1,166		$	10,809		$	8,825

	July 31, 2011		January 31, 2011
Assets:
Alternative energy	$	253,346	$	257,202
Real estate		20,191		22,235
Corporate		96,615		96,285
Total assets	$	370,152	$	375,722

	Three Months Ended July 31,						Six Months Ended July 31,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Sales of products alternative energy segment:
Ethanol		81	%		83	%		81	%		83	%
Distillers grains		19	%		17	%		19	%		17	%
Total		100	%		100	%		100	%		100	%
Sales of services real estate segment:
Lease revenue		100	%		100	%		100	%		100	%

          Certain corporate costs and expenses, including information technology, employee benefits and other shared services are allocated to the business segments. The allocations are generally amounts agreed upon by management, which may differ from amounts that would be incurred if such services were purchased separately by the business segment. Corporate assets are primarily cash and deferred income tax benefits.

          Cash, except for cash held by One Earth, is considered to be fungible and available for both corporate and segment use dependent on liquidity requirements. Cash of approximately $12.2 million held by One Earth will be used to fund working capital needs for that entity.