Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition.  The Company recognizes revenue for its Lime and Limestone Operations in accordance with the terms of its purchase orders, contracts or purchase agreements, which are generally upon shipment, and when payment is considered probable. Revenues include external freight billed to customers with related costs in cost of revenues.  The Company’s returns and allowances are minimal.  External freight billed to customers included in first quarter 2014 and 2013 revenues was $6.5 million and $6.0 million, respectively, which approximates the amount of external freight billed to customers included in cost of revenues.  Sales taxes billed to customers are not included in revenues.  For its Natural Gas Interests, the Company recognizes revenue in the month of production and delivery.

Successful-Efforts Method Used for Natural Gas Interests

Successful-Efforts Method Used for Natural Gas Interests.  The Company uses the successful-efforts method to account for oil and gas exploration and development expenditures.  Under this method, drilling, completion and workover costs for successful exploratory wells and all development well costs are capitalized and depleted using the units-of-production method.  Costs to drill exploratory wells that do not find proved reserves are expensed.

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

Fair Values of Financial Instruments.  Fair value is defined as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.”  The Company uses a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which classifies the inputs used in measuring fair values, in determining the fair value of its financial assets and liabilities.  These tiers include:  Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets; Level 2, defined as observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.  There were no changes in the methods and assumptions used in measuring fair value during the period, which include, as of the valuation date, quoted three-month LIBOR rates for the remaining life of the interest rate swaps.  The Company’s financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are summarized below (in thousands):

							Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
	March 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			March 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			Valuation Technique
Interest rate swap liabilities	$	(1,304	)	$	(1,533	)	$	(1,304	)	$	(1,533	)	Cash flows approach

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive Income (Loss).  Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses be included in net income.  Certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as mark-to-market gains or losses of interest rate hedges, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the balance sheet.  Such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive income (loss).