Segment Information

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

Segment Information

The Company’s operations include six reportable business segments that are distinguished primarily on the basis of products and services offered. The Grain business includes grain merchandising, the operation of terminal grain elevator facilities and the investment in Lansing Trade Group, LLC (“LTG”). The Ethanol business purchases and sells ethanol and also manages the ethanol production facilities organized as limited liability companies, one of which is consolidated and three of which are investments accounted for under the equity method, and various service contracts for these investments. Rail operations include the leasing, marketing and fleet management of railcars and locomotives, railcar repair and metal fabrication. The Plant Nutrient business manufactures and distributes agricultural inputs, primarily fertilizer, to dealers and farmers. Turf & Specialty operations include the production and distribution of turf care and corncob-based products. The Retail business operates large retail stores, a specialty food market, a distribution center and a lawn and garden equipment sales and service facility. Included in “Other” are the corporate level amounts not attributable to an operating segment.

The segment information below includes the allocation of expenses shared by one or more operating segments. Although management believes such allocations are reasonable, the operating information does not necessarily reflect how such data might appear if the segments were operated as separate businesses. Inter-segment sales are made at prices comparable to normal, unaffiliated customer sales.

During the first quarter, approximately $28 million of assets specific to the agronomy business that was included in the purchase of certain assets of Green Plains Grain Company, LLC in the fourth quarter of 2012 were reclassified from the Grain segment to the Plant Nutrient segment. Corresponding items of segment information have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

	Three months ended June 30,				Six months ended June 30,
	2013		2012		2013		2012
(in thousands)
Revenues from external customers
Grain	$	891,350	$	718,911	$	1,727,845	$	1,418,772
Ethanol	222,240		167,758		421,549		318,428
Plant Nutrient	330,339		308,797		442,241		484,157
Rail	38,601		32,046		84,965		67,905
Turf & Specialty	43,144		43,845		90,331		88,972
Retail	41,290		44,477		72,003		74,733
Total	$	1,566,964	$	1,315,834	$	2,838,934	$	2,452,967

	Three months ended June 30,				Six months ended June 30,
(in thousands)	2013		2012		2013		2012
Inter-segment sales
Grain	$	1	$	—	$	333	$	1
Plant Nutrient	4,015		5,334		11,712		8,417
Rail	105		208		209		411
Turf & Specialty	841		497		1,840		1,473
Total	$	4,962	$	6,039	$	14,094	$	10,302

	Three months ended June 30,					Six months ended June 30,
(in thousands)	2013			2012		2013			2012
Interest expense (income)
Grain	$	2,474		$	2,687	$	6,323		$	5,939
Ethanol	280			185		606			209
Plant Nutrient	797			632		1,715			1,342
Rail	1,429			1,156		2,942			2,334
Turf & Specialty	346			312		748			668
Retail	152			157		367			353
Other	(623		)	251		(1,442		)	(135		)
Total	$	4,855		$	5,380	$	11,259		$	10,710

	Three months ended June 30,					Six months ended June 30,
(in thousands)	2013		2012			2013		2012
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates
Grain	$	5,027	$	7,505		$	12,937	$	13,457
Ethanol	4,983		(2,410		)	4,877		(4,081		)
Plant Nutrient	—		1			—		3
Total	$	10,010	$	5,096		$	17,814	$	9,379

	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
(in thousands)	2013			2012			2013		2012
Other income (expense), net
Grain	$	(349	)	$	489		$	222	$	1,316
Ethanol	199			20			430		36
Plant Nutrient	164			1,010			139		1,128
Rail	702			824			1,648		1,600
Turf & Specialty	175			289			450		490
Retail	100			155			214		279
Other	301			(116		)	915		1,068
Total	$	1,292		$	2,671		$	4,018	$	5,917

	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
(in thousands)	2013			2012			2013			2012
Income (loss) before income taxes
Grain	$	2,053		$	15,277		$	10,352		$	34,712
Ethanol	10,601			(2,105		)	13,080			(1,984		)
Plant Nutrient	23,240			27,953			22,678			33,781
Rail	9,680			7,199			24,254			15,217
Turf & Specialty	2,195			2,753			6,196			4,955
Retail	1,539			1,428			(1,630		)	(1,321		)
Other	(2,289		)	(5,950		)	(6,254		)	(10,157		)
Noncontrolling interests	1,193			(728		)	927			(1,407		)
Total	$	48,212		$	45,827		$	69,603		$	73,796

(in thousands)	June 30, 2013		December 31, 2012		June 30, 2012
Identifiable assets
Grain	$	794,913	$	1,076,986	$	844,526
Ethanol	207,977		206,975		212,094
Plant Nutrient	240,192		257,980		214,617
Rail	298,525		289,467		310,651
Turf & Specialty	73,343		82,683		66,580
Retail	50,313		51,772		56,986
Other	155,718		216,441		89,320
Total	$	1,820,981	$	2,182,304	$	1,794,774