Inventories (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Inventory, Net [Abstract]

Classes of inventories

Major classes of inventories are as follows:

	December 31,
(in thousands)	2012		2011
Grain	$	598,729	$	570,337
Ethanol and by-products (a)	22,927		5,461
Agricultural fertilizer and supplies	88,429		118,716
Lawn and garden fertilizer and corncob products	37,292		37,001
Retail merchandise	25,368		25,612
Railcar repair parts	3,764		3,063
Other	168		269
	$	776,677	$	760,459

(a) Increase driven by the acquisition of TADE (see Note 12)