Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2022

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 2021 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.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents includes bank deposits as well as short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes sales of ethanol, distillers grains and non-food grade corn oil when obligations under the terms of the respective contracts with customers are satisfied; this occurs with the transfer of control of products, 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 repair and maintenance costs, plant management, certain compensation costs and general facility overhead charges.

Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) Expenses

The Company includes non-production related costs such as professional fees, outbound freight charges, selling charges and certain payroll in SG&A expenses. Outbound freight charges were approximately $2,627,000 and $1,561,000 in the second quarter of fiscal years 2022 and 2021, respectively and approximately $2,900,000 and $7,156,000 in the first six months of fiscal years 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Financial Instruments

Certain 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 Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“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.

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. 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. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The changes in fair value of these derivative financial instruments are recognized in current period earnings as the Company does not use hedge accounting.

Income Taxes

Prior to the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, the Company determined that small changes in estimated “ordinary” income could result in significant changes in the estimated annual effective tax rate. Thus, the Company used a discrete effective tax rate method to calculate the provision or benefit for income taxes for the three and six months ended July 31, 2021. Beginning on November 18, 2021, the Company was unable to earn additional tax credits related to the refined coal facility, and therefore, ceased operation of that facility. As earning these credits is what had caused the significant changes in the estimated annual effective tax rate from small changes in estimated “ordinary” income and the Company has now classified the refined coal segment as discontinued operations, the Company returned to using the annual effective tax rate method to calculate the provision or benefit for income taxes from continuing operations beginning in the three and nine month periods ended October 31, 2021.

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 positive and negative 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 $1.1 million and $1.9 million and received no refunds during the six months ended July 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

As of July 31, 2022, and January 31, 2022, total unrecognized tax benefits were approximately $16,827,000 and $16,741,000, respectively. Accrued penalties and interest were approximately $46,000 and approximately $40,000 at July 31, 2022 and January 31, 2022, respectively. If the Company were to prevail on all unrecognized tax benefits recorded, the provision for income taxes would be reduced by approximately $16.7 million. 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 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 net realizable value on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory includes direct production costs and certain overhead costs such as depreciation, property taxes and utilities associated with producing ethanol and related by-products. Inventory is 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. The Company recorded approximately $0.8 million and $0.5 million of inventory write-downs in cost of sales at July 31, 2022 and January 31, 2022, respectively. Fluctuations in the write-down of inventory generally relate to the levels and composition of such inventory and changes in commodity prices at a given point in time.

The components of inventory are as follows as of the dates presented (amounts in thousands):

	July 31, 2022			January 31, 2022
Ethanol and other finished goods		$	21,571		$	13,158
Work in process			6,693			5,473
Grain and other raw materials			21,664			23,594
Total		$	49,928		$	42,225

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is recorded at cost or the fair value on the date of acquisition (for property and equipment acquired in a business combination). 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. The Company did not identify any indicators of impairment during the first six months of fiscal year 2022 or 2021, thus there were no impairment charges in the first six months of fiscal year 2022 or 2021.

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 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.

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 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. 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 investment in Big River Resources, LLC (“Big River”) using the equity method of accounting and includes the results on a delayed basis of one month as Big River has 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.

Short-term investments are considered held to maturity, and therefore are carried at amortized historical cost.

Other Income

As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, passed in 2020, $700 million in funds were made available to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to distribute to impacted producers of ethanol, biodiesel, and other renewable fuels under the Biofuel Producer Program. The USDA distributed funds to applicants in May 2022. Our consolidated plants received a total of approximately $7.8 million from this program, which was recorded within “Interest and other income, net” in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations.

Discontinued Operations

On November 18, 2021, the Company ceased operation of its refined coal business as tax credits could no longer be earned on its operation. Beginning in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, the results of the operation of the refined coal business have been recognized in discontinued operations. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with discontinued operations reporting.

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

In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-10, “Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance”, which increases the transparency of government assistance received by businesses by expanding the disclosure requirements for annual reporting periods. The Company plans to provide necessary disclosures required related to government assistance received in the annual reporting for the year ending January 31, 2023, as required.

The Company does not expect this accounting guidance to materially impact its consolidated financial statements.