Segment Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

	Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2016		2015		2014
Revenues from external customers
Grain	$	2,357,171	$	2,483,643	$	2,682,038
Ethanol	544,556		556,188		765,939
Plant Nutrient	725,176		848,338		802,333
Rail	163,658		170,848		148,954
Retail	134,229		139,478		140,807
Total	$	3,924,790	$	4,198,495	$	4,540,071

	Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2016		2015		2014
Inter-segment sales
Grain	$	1,638	$	3,573	$	5,066
Plant Nutrient	470		682		627
Rail	1,399		1,192		466
Total	$	3,507	$	5,447	$	6,159

	Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2016			2015			2014
Interest expense (income)
Grain	$	7,955		$	5,778		$	8,785
Ethanol	35			70			255
Plant Nutrient	6,448			7,243			5,278
Rail	6,461			7,006			7,247
Retail	496			356			666
Other	(276		)	(381		)	(471		)
Total	$	21,119		$	20,072		$	21,760

	Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2016			2015		2014
Equity in earnings of affiliates
Grain	$	(8,746	)	$	14,703	$	27,643
Ethanol	18,467			17,221		68,880
Total	$	9,721		$	31,924	$	96,523

	Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2016		2015		2014
Other income, net
Grain	$	5,472	$	26,229	$	21,450
Ethanol	77		377		223
Plant Nutrient	3,716		3,046		4,372
Rail	2,218		15,935		3,094
Retail	507		557		955
Other	2,785		328		1,031
Total	$	14,775	$	46,472	$	31,125

	Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2016			2015			2014
Income (loss) before income taxes
Grain	$	(15,651	)	$	(9,446	)	$	58,136
Ethanol	24,723			28,503			92,257
Plant Nutrient	14,176			121			24,514
Rail	32,428			50,681			31,445
Retail	(8,848		)	(455		)	(620		)
Other*	(28,323		)	(82,713		)	(34,505		)
Non-controlling interests	2,876			1,745			12,919
Total	$	21,381		$	(11,564	)	$	184,146

* includes pension settlement charges in 2015

	Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2016		2015
Identifiable assets
Grain	$	961,114	$	1,010,810
Ethanol	171,115		183,080
Plant Nutrient	484,455		531,753
Rail	398,446		405,702
Retail	31,257		44,135
Other	186,462		183,621
Total	$	2,232,849	$	2,359,101

	Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2016		2015		2014
Capital expenditures
Grain	$	21,428	$	26,862	$	20,958
Ethanol	2,301		7,223		2,256
Plant Nutrient	15,153		14,384		24,491
Rail	4,345		2,990		2,332
Retail	436		1,005		1,190
Other	34,077		20,005		8,448
Total	$	77,740	$	72,469	$	59,675

	Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2016		2015		2014
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired and other investments
Grain	$	—	$	—	$	40,206
Ethanol	—		—		—
Plant Nutrient	—		128,549		15,489
Rail	—		—		—
Other	2,500		750		100
Total	$	2,500	$	129,299	$	55,795

	Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2016		2015		2014
Depreciation and amortization
Grain	$	18,232	$	19,240	$	16,547
Ethanol	5,925		5,865		5,700
Plant Nutrient	28,663		25,179		19,624
Rail	20,082		18,450		13,262
Retail	2,452		2,510		2,668
Other	8,971		7,212		4,204
Total	$	84,325	$	78,456	$	62,005