Inventories (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Inventory, Net [Abstract]

Classes of inventories

Major classes of inventories are as follows:

(in thousands)	March 31, 2014		December 31, 2013		March 31, 2013
Grain	$	488,492	$	432,893	$	507,927
Ethanol and by-products	17,658		14,453		25,531
Agricultural fertilizer and supplies	151,144		100,593		157,882
Lawn and garden fertilizer and corncob products	37,218		39,960		30,343
Retail merchandise	26,205		22,505		28,097
Railcar repair parts	4,661		4,312		3,469
Other	206		207		129
	$	725,584	$	614,923	$	753,378