Inventories (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Inventory, Net [Abstract]

Classes of inventories

Major classes of inventories are as follows:

	December 31,
(in thousands)	2017		2016
Grain	$	505,217	$	495,139
Ethanol and coproducts	11,003		10,887
Plant nutrients and cob products	126,962		150,259
Retail merchandise	—		20,678
Railcar repair parts	5,521		5,784
	$	648,703	$	682,747