Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2015

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 2014 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, generally upon shipment from the ethanol plant or upon loading of the rail car used to transport the products.

Cost of Sales

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

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

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

Interest Expense

No interest was paid for the three months and nine months ended October 31, 2015. Interest paid for the three months and nine months ended October 31, 2014 was approximately $518,000 and $1,834,000, respectively.

Financial Instruments

The Company used 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, which terminated on July 8, 2014, was recorded at its fair value and the changes in fair value were recorded as gain or loss on derivative financial instruments in the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations. Because the interest rate swap terminated in fiscal year 2014, the Company paid no settlements of interest rate swaps during the three months or nine months ended October 31, 2015. The Company paid settlements of interest rate swaps of approximately $367,000 and $1,142,000 during the three months and nine months ended October 31, 2014, respectively.

A majority of the 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. During fiscal year 2015, the Company began to carry a portion of its forward grain purchase contracts at fair value. During the three months and nine months ending October 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, there were no material settlements of forward contracts that are recorded at fair value; at October 31, 2015, the Company recorded a liability of approximately $0.4 million associated with these contracts.

The Company uses derivative financial instruments (exchange-traded futures contracts) to manage a portion of the risk associated with changes in commodity prices, primarily related to corn, ethanol and distillers grains. The Company monitors and manages this exposure as part of its overall risk management policy. As such, the Company seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on its operating results. The Company may take hedging positions in these commodities as one way to mitigate risk. While the Company attempts to link its hedging activities to purchase and sales activities, there are situations in which these hedging activities can themselves result in losses.

Income Taxes

The Company applies an effective tax rate to interim periods that is consistent with the Company’s estimated annual tax rate as adjusted for discrete items impacting the interim periods. 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 approximately $19,703,000 and $22,829,000 during the nine months ended October 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company received refunds of state income taxes of approximately $132,000 during the nine months ended October 31, 2015. The Company received no refunds of income taxes during the nine months ended October 31, 2014.

As of October 31, 2015, there were no unrecognized tax benefits nor any accrued penalties and interest. 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. 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 were no significant permanent write-downs of inventory at October 31, 2015 and January 31, 2015. 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 are as follows as of the dates presented (amounts in thousands):

	October 31, 2015		January 31, 2015
Ethanol and other finished goods	$	5,614	$	3,039
Work in process		2,599		2,609
Grain and other raw materials		15,343		12,414
Total	$	23,556	$	18,062

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.

In accordance with ASC 360-10 “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, the carrying value of long-lived assets is assessed for recoverability by management when changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable, based on an analysis of undiscounted future expected cash flows from the use and ultimate disposition of the asset. There were approximately $125,000 and $68,000 of impairment charges in the first nine months of fiscal years 2015 and 2014, respectively. Fiscal year 2015 impairment charges are included in cost of sales while fiscal year 2014 impairment charges are included in discontinued operations in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations as a result of the prospective adoption of Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-08 (“ASU 2014-08”), “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity”. These impairment charges are related to unfavorable changes in real estate conditions in local markets. Impairment charges result from the Company’s management performing cash flow analysis and represent management’s estimate of the excess of net book value over fair value. Fair value is estimated using expected future cash flows on a discounted basis or appraisals of specific properties as appropriate. Long-lived assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. Given the nature of the Company’s business, events and changes in circumstances include, but are not limited to, a significant decline in estimated future cash flows, a sustained decline in market prices for similar assets, or a significant adverse change in legal or regulatory factors or the business climate. A significant decline in estimated future cash flows is represented by a greater than 25% annual decline in expected future cash flows (for real estate asset groups) or a change in the spread between ethanol and grain prices that would result in greater than six consecutive months of estimated or actual significant negative cash flows (for alternative energy asset groups).

The Company tests for recoverability of an asset group by comparing its carrying amount to its estimated undiscounted future cash flows. If the carrying amount of an asset group exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the Company recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the asset group’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, if any. The Company generally determines the fair value of the asset group using a discounted cash flow model based on market participant assumptions (for income producing asset groups) or by obtaining appraisals based on the market approach and comparable market transactions (for non-income producing asset groups).

For real estate assets, each individual real estate property represents the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. As such, the Company separately tests individual real estate properties for recoverability. Real estate assets include both income producing and non-income producing asset groups.

For alternative energy reportable assets, each individual ethanol plant represents the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. As such, the Company separately tests individual ethanol plants for recoverability. In addition to the general events and changes in circumstances noted above that indicate that an asset group may not be recoverable, the Company also considers the decision to suspend operations at a plant for at least a six month period and the default on loan covenants as indicators. Alternative energy assets include only income producing asset groups.

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 lag as One Earth has a fiscal year end of December 31. NuGen has the same fiscal year as the parent, and therefore, there is no lag in reporting the results of NuGen. The Company accounts for investments in a limited liability company in which it has 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. The Company accounts for its investments in Big River Resources, LLC (“Big River”) and Patriot Holdings, LLC (“Patriot”) (through May 31, 2015 – see Note 11 for a discussion of the sale of the Company’s equity interest in Patriot) using the equity method of accounting and includes the results of these entities on a delayed basis of one month as they have a fiscal year end of December 31.

The Company periodically evaluates its investments for impairment due to declines in market value considered to be other than temporary. Such impairment evaluations include 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

The Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance in ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, which 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 Financial Accounting Standards Board has deferred the required adoption of the amended guidance by one year, from February 1, 2017 to February 1, 2018. Early application beginning February 1, 2017 would be permitted. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Effective February 1, 2015, the Company was required to adopt ASU 2014-08. Under this new guidance, only disposals of a component that represent a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results are to be classified as a discontinued operation. The adoption of ASU 2014-08 resulted in the Company classifying sales of individual real estate properties as continuing operations instead of discontinued operations as the sale of individual properties does not represent a strategic shift for the Company (for sales occurring subsequent to January 31, 2015).

Effective February 1, 2017, the Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 330, “Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory”. This amended guidance requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The amended guidance will be applied prospectively. The Company has not yet determined the effect of this amended guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.