Inventories (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Inventory, Net [Abstract]

Classes of inventories

Major classes of inventories are as follows:

(in thousands)	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011		June 30, 2011
Grain	$	465,453	$	570,337	$	298,580
Ethanol and by-products	18,516		5,461		5,381
Agricultural fertilizer and supplies	57,637		118,716		112,892
Lawn and garden fertilizer and corncob products	21,714		37,001		22,585
Retail merchandise	30,685		25,612		27,492
Railcar repair parts	2,777		3,063		2,252
Other	309		269		369
	$	597,091	$	760,459	$	469,551