Segment Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 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 investments in Lansing Trade Group, LLC (“LTG”) and the Thompsons Limited joint ventures. 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 September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2013		2012		2013		2012
(in thousands)
Revenues from external customers
Grain	$	765,833	$	677,484	$	2,493,678	$	2,096,256
Ethanol	213,384		209,634		634,933		528,062
Plant Nutrient	95,681		135,144		537,922		619,301
Rail	47,523		59,703		132,488		127,608
Turf & Specialty	27,624		21,509		117,955		110,481
Retail	31,329		34,928		103,332		109,661
Total	$	1,181,374	$	1,138,402	$	4,020,308	$	3,591,369

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2013		2012		2013		2012
Inter-segment sales
Grain	$	—	$	—	$	333	$	1
Plant Nutrient	4,243		3,481		15,955		11,898
Rail	109		105		318		516
Turf & Specialty	516		521		1,869		1,994
Total	$	4,868	$	4,107	$	18,475	$	14,409

	Three months ended September 30,					Nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2013		2012			2013			2012
Interest expense (income)
Grain	$	1,391	$	3,465		$	7,714		$	9,404
Ethanol	289		284			895			493
Plant Nutrient	746		725			2,461			2,067
Rail	1,220		1,229			4,162			3,563
Turf & Specialty	203		238			951			906
Retail	152		217			519			570
Other	1,347		(676		)	(95		)	(811		)
Total	$	5,348	$	5,482		$	16,607		$	16,192

	Three months ended September 30,					Nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2013		2012			2013		2012
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates
Grain	$	12,003	$	9,249		$	24,940	$	22,706
Ethanol	10,174		(3,224		)	15,051		(7,305		)
Plant Nutrient	—		2			—		5
Total	$	22,177	$	6,027		$	39,991	$	15,406

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2013		2012		2013		2012
Other income (expense), net
Grain	$	1,216	$	526	$	1,438	$	1,842
Ethanol	35		1		465		37
Plant Nutrient	320		523		459		1,651
Rail	5,031		1,695		6,679		3,295
Turf & Specialty	135		181		585		671
Retail	102		117		316		396
Other	766		449		1,681		1,517
Total	$	7,605	$	3,492	$	11,623	$	9,409

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2013			2012			2013			2012
Income (loss) before income taxes
Grain	$	14,323		$	10,807		$	24,675		$	45,519
Ethanol	10,904			(936		)	23,984			(2,920		)
Plant Nutrient	(1,643		)	759			21,035			34,540
Rail	12,360			19,071			36,614			34,288
Turf & Specialty	(83		)	(1,571		)	6,113			3,384
Retail	(2,043		)	(1,769		)	(3,673		)	(3,090		)
Other	(6,309		)	(344		)	(12,563		)	(10,501		)
Noncontrolling interests	878			(1,693		)	1,805			(3,100		)
Total	$	28,387		$	24,324		$	97,990		$	98,120

(in thousands)	September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012		September 30, 2012
Identifiable assets
Grain	$	784,869	$	1,076,986	$	942,629
Ethanol	207,530		206,975		214,858
Plant Nutrient	258,772		257,980		268,982
Rail	294,528		289,467		309,847
Turf & Specialty	71,600		82,683		55,638
Retail	51,465		51,772		56,795
Other	213,527		216,441		142,691
Total	$	1,882,291	$	2,182,304	$	1,991,440