Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Note 2. Accounting Policies

The interim consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s fiscal year 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K. While management believes that the procedures followed in the preparation of interim financial information are reasonable, the accuracy of some estimated amounts is dependent upon facts that will exist or calculations that will be accomplished at fiscal year-end. Examples of such estimates include accrued liabilities, such as management bonuses, and the provision for income taxes. Any adjustments pursuant to such estimates during the quarter were of a normal recurring nature. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes sales from the production of ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil when title transfers to customers, upon shipment from its plant. Shipping and handling charges billed to customers are included in net sales and revenue.

The Company includes income from real estate leasing activities in net sales and revenue. The Company accounts for these leases as operating leases. Accordingly, minimum rental revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Cost of Sales

Alternative energy cost of sales includes depreciation, costs of raw materials, inbound freight charges, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, shipping costs, other distribution expenses, warehousing costs, plant management, certain compensation costs, and general facility overhead charges.

Real estate cost of sales includes depreciation, real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance and other costs directly associated with operating the Company’s portfolio of real property.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

The Company includes non-production related costs from its alternative energy segment such as professional fees, selling charges and certain payroll in selling, general and administrative expenses.

The Company includes costs not directly related to operating its portfolio of real property from its real estate segment such as certain payroll and related costs, professional fees and other general expenses in selling, general and administrative expenses.

The Company includes costs associated with its corporate headquarters such as certain payroll and related costs, professional fees and other general expenses in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Interest Cost

Interest paid for the three months ended July 31, 2014 and 2013 was approximately $496,000 and $941,000, respectively. Interest paid for the six months ended July 31, 2014 and 2013 was approximately $1,316,000 and $1,922,000, respectively

Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its balance of fixed and variable rate debt. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Interest rate swap agreements involve the exchange of fixed and variable rate interest payments and do not represent an actual exchange of the notional amounts between the parties. The swap agreement was not designated for hedge accounting pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The interest rate swap is recorded at its fair value and the changes in fair value are recorded as gain or loss on derivative financial instruments in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations. The Company paid settlements of an interest rate swap of approximately $376,000 and $422,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company paid settlements of the interest rate swap of approximately $774,000 and $862,000 for the six months ended July 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Forward grain purchase and ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil sale contracts are accounted for under the “normal purchases and normal sales” scope exemption of ASC 815 because these arrangements are for purchases of grain that will be delivered in quantities expected to be used by the Company and sales of ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil quantities expected to be produced by the Company over a reasonable period of time in the normal course of business.

Income Taxes

The Company applies an effective tax rate to interim periods that is consistent with the Company’s estimated annual tax rate. The Company provides for deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company provides for a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company paid income taxes of $18,521,000 during the six months ended July 31, 2014 and paid no income taxes during the six months ended July 31, 2013.

As of July 31, 2014, total unrecognized tax benefits were approximately $1,451,000 and accrued penalties and interest were approximately $439,000. If the Company were to prevail on all unrecognized tax benefits recorded, approximately $24,000 of the reserve would benefit the effective tax rate. In addition, the impact of penalties and interest would also benefit the effective tax rate. Interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits are recorded within income tax expense. On a quarterly and annual basis, the Company accrues for the effects of open uncertain tax positions and the related potential penalties and interest.

Inventories

Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market on a first-in, first-out basis. Alternative energy segment inventory includes direct production costs and certain overhead costs such as depreciation, property taxes and utilities related to producing ethanol and related by-products. Inventory is permanently written down for instances when cost exceeds estimated net realizable value; such write-downs are based primarily upon commodity prices as the market value of inventory is often dependent upon changes in commodity prices. There was no material permanent write-down of inventory at July 31, 2014 and January 31, 2014, respectively. Fluctuations in the write-down of inventory generally relate to the levels and composition of such inventory at a given point in time. The components of inventory at July 31, 2014 and January 31, 2014 are as follows (amounts in thousands):

	July 31, 2014		January 31, 2014
Ethanol and other finished goods	$	3,764	$	3,517
Work in process		2,679		3,017
Grain and other raw materials		10,844		12,836
Total	$	17,287	$	19,370

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives are 15 to 40 years for buildings and improvements, and 3 to 20 years for fixtures and equipment.

Investments

The method of accounting applied to long-term investments, whether consolidated, equity or cost, involves an evaluation of the significant terms of each investment that explicitly grant or suggest evidence of control or influence over the operations of the investee and also includes the identification of any variable interests in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company consolidates the results of two majority owned subsidiaries, One Earth and NuGen. The results of One Earth are included on a delayed basis of one month. The Company accounts for investments in limited liability companies in which it may have a less than 20% ownership interest, using the equity method of accounting when the factors discussed in ASC 323, “Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures” are met. The excess of the carrying value over the underlying equity in the net assets of equity method investees is allocated to specific assets and liabilities. Any unallocated excess is treated as goodwill and is recorded as a component of the carrying value of the equity method investee. Investments in businesses that the Company does not control but for which it has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial matters are accounted for using the equity method. Investments in which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial matters are accounted for using the cost method. The Company accounts for its investments in Big River Resources, LLC (“Big River”) and Patriot Holdings, LLC (“Patriot”) using the equity method of accounting and includes the results of these entities on a delayed basis of one month.

The Company periodically evaluates its investments for impairment due to declines in market value considered to be other than temporary. Such impairment evaluations include, in addition to persistent, declining market prices, general economic and company-specific evaluations. If the Company determines that a decline in market value is other than temporary, then a charge to earnings is recorded in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations and a new cost basis in the investment is established.

Comprehensive Income

The Company has no components of other comprehensive income, and therefore, comprehensive income equals net income.

Accounting Changes and Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Effective February 1, 2014, the Company was required to adopt Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-11 (“ASU 2013-11”), “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists”. The update requires, unless certain conditions exists, an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. ASU 2013-11 was effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013, with early adoption permitted. Retrospective application is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2013-11 did not impact the Company’s financial statements.

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2014-08 (“ASU 2014-08”), “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity” that changes the criteria for reporting a discontinued operation. Under this new guidance, only disposals of a component that represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results is a discontinued operation. Expanded disclosures about discontinued operations and disposals of a significant part of an entity that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting are also required. ASU 2014-08 is effective beginning February 1, 2015 with early adoption permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in previously-issued financial statements. Management has not determined the impact of adopting ASU 2014-08 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 (“ASU 2014-09”), “Revenue From Contracts With Customers”. The update requires revenue recognition to reflect the transfer of promised goods or services to customers and replaces existing revenue recognition guidance. The updated standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company will be required to adopt ASU 2014-09 effective February 1, 2017. The Company has not determined the impact of adopting ASU 2014-09 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.