Segment Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

Segment Information

The Company’s operations include five 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 LTG and Thompsons Limited. The Ethanol business purchases and sells ethanol and also manages the ethanol production facilities organized as limited liability companies, one is consolidated and three are investments accounted for under the equity method. There are various service contracts for these investments. Rail operations include the leasing, marketing and fleet management of railcars and other assets, railcar repair and metal fabrication. The Plant Nutrient business manufactures and distributes agricultural inputs, primarily fertilizer, to dealers and farmers, along with turf care and corncob-based products. The Retail business operates large retail stores, a distribution center, and a lawn and garden equipment sales and service facility. Included in “Other” are the corporate level costs not attributed 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. The Company does not have any customers who represent 10 percent or more of total revenues.

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2016		2015		2016		2015
Revenues from external customers
Grain	$	550,189	$	545,320	$	1,611,992	$	1,705,393
Ethanol	139,413		137,765		396,626		413,130
Plant Nutrient	101,770		149,303		588,797		660,440
Rail	38,201		44,758		118,152		134,497
Retail	30,039		31,947		96,168		101,562
Total	$	859,612	$	909,093	$	2,811,735	$	3,015,022

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2016		2015		2016		2015
Inter-segment sales
Grain	$	7	$	404	$	1,632	$	2,534
Plant Nutrient	61		53		422		517
Rail	328		388		1,062		813
Total	$	396	$	845	$	3,116	$	3,864

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2016			2015			2016			2015
Income (loss) before income taxes
Grain	$	1,879		$	131		$	(28,563	)	$	4,024
Ethanol	9,541			5,888			13,048			20,833
Plant Nutrient	(7,231		)	(11,114		)	18,008			8,183
Rail	6,754			11,913			22,698			43,915
Retail	(1,578		)	(769		)	(2,644		)	(1,483		)
Other	(6,539		)	(8,781		)	(19,612		)	(23,955		)
Noncontrolling interests	1,619			277			1,711			1,433
Total	$	4,445		$	(2,455	)	$	4,646		$	52,950

(in thousands)	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015		September 30, 2015
Identifiable assets
Grain	$	721,412	$	1,010,810	$	852,388
Ethanol	174,822		183,080		186,250
Plant Nutrient	462,328		531,753		546,673
Rail	383,631		405,702		413,955
Retail	42,880		44,135		45,403
Other	199,338		183,621		147,025
Total	$	1,984,411	$	2,359,101	$	2,191,694