Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Consolidation	Basis of Consolidation These Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of The Andersons, Inc. and its wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries (the “Company”). All material intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in unconsolidated entities in which the Company has significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. At inception of joint venture transactions, we identify entities for which control is achieved through means other than voting rights (“variable interest entities” or “VIEs”) and determine which business enterprise is the primary beneficiary of its operations. A VIE is broadly defined as an entity where either (i) the equity investors as a group, if any, do not have a controlling financial interest, or (ii) the equity investment at risk is insufficient to finance that entity’s activities without additional subordinated financial support. The Company consolidates investments in VIEs when the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. This evaluation is based on an enterprise’s ability to direct and influence the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact that entity’s economic performance. The Company evaluates its interests in VIEs on an ongoing basis and consolidates any VIE in which it has a controlling financial interest and is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. A controlling financial interest has both of the following characteristics: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to it or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. On October 1, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with Marathon Petroleum Corporation to merge The Andersons Albion Ethanol LLC (“TAAE”), The Andersons Clymers Ethanol LLC (“TACE”), The Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC (“TAME”) and the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, The Andersons Denison Ethanol LLC (“TADE”), into a new legal entity, The Andersons Marathon Holdings LLC ("TAMH"). The Company evaluated its interest in TAMH and determined that TAMH is a VIE and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of TAMH. This is due to the fact that the Company has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact TAMH and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from TAMH. Therefore, the Company consolidated TAMH in its financial statements. On March 2, 2018, the Company invested in ELEMENT. The Company owns 51% of ELEMENT and ICM, Inc. owns the remaining 49% interest. As part of the Company’s investment into ELEMENT, the Company and ICM, Inc. entered into a number of agreements. Most notably, ICM, Inc. will operate the facility under a management contract and manage the initial construction of the facility, while the Company will provide corn origination, ethanol marketing, and risk management services. The Company evaluated its interest in ELEMENT and determined that ELEMENT is a VIE and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of ELEMENT. This is due to the fact that the Company has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact ELEMENT and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from ELEMENT. Therefore, the Company consolidates ELEMENT.
Use of Estimates and Assumptions	Use of Estimates and AssumptionsThe preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash Cash and cash equivalents include cash and short-term investments with an initial maturity of three months or less. The carrying values of these assets approximate their fair values.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful AccountsTrade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and may bear interest if past due. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the best estimate of the current expected credit losses in existing accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts is reviewed quarterly. The allowance is based both on specific identification of potentially uncollectible accounts and the application of a consistent policy, based on historical experience, to estimate the allowance necessary for the remaining accounts receivable. For those customers that are thought to be at higher risk, the Company makes assumptions as to collectability based on past history and facts about the current situation. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when it becomes more certain that the receivable will not be recovered. The Company manages its exposure to counterparty credit risk through credit analysis and approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures.
Commodity Derivatives and Inventories	Commodity Derivatives and Inventories The Company's operating results can be affected by changes to commodity prices. The Trade and Ethanol businesses have established “unhedged” position limits (the amount of a commodity, either owned or contracted for, that does not have an offsetting derivative contract to mitigate the price risk associated with those contracts and inventory). To reduce the exposure to market price risk on commodities owned and forward commodity and ethanol purchase and sale contracts, the Company enters into exchange traded commodity futures and options contracts and over-the-counter forward and option contracts with various counterparties. The forward purchase and sale contracts are for physical delivery of the commodity in a future period. Contracts to purchase commodities from producers generally relate to the current or future crop years for delivery periods quoted by regulated commodity exchanges. Contracts for the sale of commodities to processors or other commercial consumers generally do not extend beyond one year. The Company accounts for its commodity derivatives at fair value. The estimated fair value of the commodity derivative contracts that require the receipt or posting of cash collateral is recorded on a net basis (offset against cash collateral posted or received, also known as margin deposits) within commodity derivative assets or liabilities. Management determines fair value based on exchange-quoted prices and in the case of its forward purchase and sale contracts, fair value is adjusted for differences in local markets and non-performance risk. While the Company considers certain of its commodity contracts to be effective economic hedges, the Company does not designate or account for its commodity contracts as hedges. Realized and unrealized gains and losses in the value of commodity contracts (whether due to changes in commodity prices, changes in performance or credit risk, or due to sale, maturity or extinguishment of the commodity contract) and commodity inventories are included in cost of sales and merchandising revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additional information about the fair value of the Company's commodity derivatives is presented in Notes 5 and 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Readily Marketable Inventories, which are grain and other agricultural commodities, may be acquired under provisionally priced contracts, are stated at their net realizable value, which approximates estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. All other inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined by the average cost method. Additional information about inventories is presented in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Derivatives - Master Netting Arrangements	Derivatives - Master Netting Arrangements Generally accepted accounting principles permit a party to a master netting arrangement to offset fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments against the right to reclaim cash collateral or obligation to return cash collateral under the same master netting arrangement. The Company has master netting arrangements for its exchange traded futures and options contracts and certain over-the-counter contracts. When the Company enters into a futures, options or an over-the-counter contract, an initial margin deposit may be required by the counterparty. The amount of the margin deposit varies by commodity. If the market price of a futures, option or an over-the-counter contract moves in a direction that is adverse to the Company's position, an additional margin deposit, called a maintenance margin, is required. The Company nets, by counterparty, its futures and over-the-counter positions against the cash collateral provided or received. The margin deposit assets and liabilities are included in short-term commodity derivative assets or liabilities, as appropriate, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Additional information about the Company's master netting arrangements is presented in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Derivatives - Interest Rate and Foreign Currency Contracts	Derivatives - Interest Rate and Foreign Currency Contracts The Company periodically enters into interest rate contracts to manage interest rate risk on borrowing or financing activities. The Company has long-term interest rate swaps recorded in other assets or other long-term liabilities that expire from 2021 to 2025 and have been designated as cash flow hedges; accordingly, changes in the fair value of the instruments are recognized in other comprehensive income. The Company has other interest rate contracts recorded in other assets that are not designated as hedges. While the Company considers all of its derivative positions to be effective economic hedges of specified risks, these interest rate contracts for which hedge accounting is not applied are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in either other current assets or liabilities (if short-term in nature) or in other assets or other long-term liabilities (if non-current in nature), and changes in fair value are recognized in current earnings as interest expense. Upon termination of a derivative instrument or a change in the hedged item, any remaining fair value recorded on the balance sheet is recorded as interest expense consistent with the cash flows associated with the underlying hedged item. Information regarding the nature and terms of the Company's interest rate derivatives is presented in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Marketing Agreement	Marketing AgreementThe Company has a marketing agreement that covers certain of its grain facilities, some of which are leased from Cargill. Under the five-year amended and restated agreement (renewed in June 2018 and ending May 2023), any grain the Company sells to Cargill is at market price. Income earned from operating the facilities (including buying, storing and selling grain and providing grain marketing services to its producer customers) over a specified threshold is shared equally with Cargill. Measurement of this threshold is made on a cumulative basis and cash is paid to Cargill on an annual basis. The Company recognizes its pro rata share of this profit-sharing arrangement as a reduction of revenue in our Consolidated Statements of Operations every month and accrues for any payment owed to Cargill.
Rail Group Assets Leased to Others	Rail Assets Leased to Others The Company's Rail segment purchases, leases, markets and manages railcars and barges for third parties and for internal use. Rail assets to which the Company holds title are shown on the balance sheet in one of two categories - other current assets (for those that are available for sale) or Rail assets leased to others. Rail assets leased to others, both on short and long-term leases, are classified as long-term assets and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Railcars have statutory lives of either 40 or 50 years, measured from the date built. Barges have estimated lives of 30 to 40 years, measured from the date built. At the time of purchase, the remaining life is used in determining useful lives which are depreciated on a straight-line basis. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred. Additional information regarding Rail assets leased to others is presented in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, Plant and EquipmentProperty, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred, while betterments that extend useful lives are capitalized. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets, by the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives are generally as follows: land improvements - 16 years; leasehold improvements - the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvement, ranging from 3 to 20 years; buildings and storage facilities - 10 to 40 years; and machinery and equipment - 3 to 20 years. The cost of assets retired or otherwise disposed of and the accumulated depreciation thereon are removed from the accounts, with any gain or loss realized upon sale or disposal credited or charged to operations.
Deferred Debt Issue Costs	Deferred Debt Issue Costs Costs associated with the issuance of debt are deferred and recorded net with debt. These costs are amortized, as a component of interest expense, over the earlier of the stated term of the debt or the period from the issue date through the first early payoff date without penalty, or the expected payoff date if the loan does not contain a prepayment penalty. Deferred costs associated with the borrowing arrangement with a syndication of banks are amortized over the term of the agreement.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill is subject to annual impairment tests or more often when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may be impaired. A goodwill impairment loss is recognized to the extent the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the business enterprise value. Additional information about the Company's goodwill and other intangible assets is presented in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Acquired intangible assets are recorded at cost, less accumulated amortization, if not indefinite lived. In addition, we capitalize the salaries and payroll-related costs of employees and consultants who devote time to the development of internal-use software projects. If a project constitutes an enhancement to previously-developed software, we assess whether the enhancement is significant and creates additional functionality to the software, thus qualifying the work incurred for capitalization. Once a project is complete, we estimate the useful life of the internal-use software. Changes in our estimates related to internal-use software would increase or decrease operating expenses or amortization recorded during the period. Amortization of intangible assets is provided over their estimated useful lives (generally 1 to 10 years) on the straight-line method.
Impairment of Long-lived Assets	Impairment of Long-lived Assets and Equity Method Investments Long-lived assets, including intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to the undiscounted future net cash flows the Company expects to generate with the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the Company recognizes an impairment loss for the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets.
Provisionally Priced Grain Contracts	Provisionally Priced Commodity Contracts Accounts payable includes certain amounts related to commodity purchases for which, even though the Company has taken ownership and possession of the commodity the final purchase price has not been fully established. If the futures and basis components are unpriced, it is referred to as a delayed price payable. If the futures component has not been established, but the basis has been set, it is referred to as a basis payable. The unpriced portion of these payables will be exposed to changes in the fair value of the underlying commodity based on quoted prices on commodity exchanges (or basis levels). Those payables that are fully priced are not considered derivative instruments. The Company also enters into contracts with customers for risk management purposes that allow the customers to effectively unprice the futures component of their inventory for a period of time, subjecting the commodities to market fluctuations. The Company records an asset or liability for the market value changes of the commodities over the life of the contracts based on quoted exchange prices.
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation Stock-based compensation expense for all stock-based compensation awards is based on the estimated grant-date fair value. The Company recognizes these compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, adjusted for revisions to performance expectations. Additional information about the Company's stock compensation plans is presented in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Per Share Data	Per Share Data Basic earnings per common share are determined by dividing net earnings attributable to controlling interests by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. In computing diluted earnings per share, average number of common shares outstanding is increased by unvested stock awards and common stock options outstanding with exercise prices lower than the average market price of common shares using the treasury share method. At December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, all options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as the exercise price of the options were less than the average market price of the common shares.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition The Company’s revenue consists of sales from commodity contracts that are accounted for under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815), rental revenues from leases that are accounted for under ASC 842, Leases, and sales of other products and services that are accounted for under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). Revenue from commodity contracts (ASC 815) Revenue from commodity contracts primarily relates to forward sales of commodities in the Company’s Trade and Ethanol segments, such as corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, ethanol, and corn oil, which are accounted for as derivatives at fair value under ASC 815. These forward sales meet the definition of a derivative under ASC 815 as they have an underlying (e.g. the price of corn), a notional amount (e.g. metric tons), no initial net investment and can be net settled since the commodity is readily convertible to cash. The Company does not apply the normal purchase and normal sale exception available under ASC 815 to these contracts. Revenue from commodity contracts is recognized in Sales and merchandising revenues for the contractually stated amount when the contracts are settled. Settlement of the commodity contracts generally occurs upon shipment or delivery of the product, when title and risks and rewards of ownership transfers to the customer. Prior to settlement, these forward sales contracts are recognized at fair value with the unrealized gains or losses recorded within Cost of sales and merchandising revenues. Additional information about the fair value of the Company's commodity derivatives is presented in Notes 5 and 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. There are certain transactions that allow for pricing to occur after title of the goods has passed to the customer. In these cases, the Company continues to report the goods in inventory until it recognizes the sales revenue once the price has been determined. Direct ship commodity sales (where the Company never takes physical possession of the commodity) are recognized based on the terms of the contract. Certain of the Company's operations provide for customer billings, deposits or prepayments for product that is stored at the Company's facilities. The sales and gross profit related to these transactions are not recognized until the product is shipped in accordance with the previously stated revenue recognition policy and these amounts are classified as a current liability titled “Customer prepayments and deferred revenue”. Revenue from leases (ASC 842) The Company has a diversified fleet of car types (boxcars, gondolas, covered and open top hopper cars, flat cars, tank cars and pressure differential cars), locomotives and barges serving a broad customer base. While most of these assets are owned by the Company, it also leases assets from financial intermediaries through sale-leaseback transactions, the majority of which involve operating leases. The Company's Rail leases these assets to customers under operating leases, which includes managing the assets for third parties. In exchange for conveying the right to use these railcars to the lessee, the Company receives a fixed monthly rental payment, which is typically expressed on a “per car” basis in the lease agreement. Revenue from these arrangements is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Certain of the Company's leases include monthly lease fees that are contingent upon some measure of usage (“per diem” leases). This monthly usage is tracked, billed and collected by third-party service providers and funds are generally remitted to the Company along with usage data three months after they are earned. The Company records lease revenue for these per diem arrangements based on recent historical usage patterns and records a true-up adjustment when the actual data is received. Such true-up adjustments were not significant for any period presented. Revenue related to railcar or other asset servicing and maintenance contracts is recognized over the term of the lease or service contract. Revenue from contracts with customers (ASC 606)Revenue from contracts with customers accounted for under ASC 606 is primarily generated in the Plant Nutrient segment through the sale of agricultural and related plant nutrients, corncob-based products, pelleted lime and gypsum products. The Company recognizes revenue from these contracts at a point in time when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of a product to a customer, generally when legal title and risks and rewards of ownership transfer to the customer.
Lease Accounting	Lease AccountingOn January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC 842 using the modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach recognizes the effects of initially applying the new leases standard as a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the adoption date. Under this election, the provisions of ASC 840 apply to the accounting and disclosures for lease arrangements in the comparative periods in an entity’s financial statements. In addition, the Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within ASC 842, in which the Company need not reassess (i) the historical lease classification, (ii) whether any expired or existing contract is or contains a lease, or (iii) the initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company recognizes a right of use asset and a corresponding lease liability equal to the present value of the remaining minimum lease payments related to both its operating and finance rail leases.
Lease Accounting	Lease AccountingOn January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC 842 using the modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach recognizes the effects of initially applying the new leases standard as a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the adoption date. Under this election, the provisions of ASC 840 apply to the accounting and disclosures for lease arrangements in the comparative periods in an entity’s financial statements. In addition, the Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within ASC 842, in which the Company need not reassess (i) the historical lease classification, (ii) whether any expired or existing contract is or contains a lease, or (iii) the initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company recognizes a right of use asset and a corresponding lease liability equal to the present value of the remaining minimum lease payments related to both its operating and finance rail leases.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Income tax expense for each period includes current tax expense plus deferred expense, which is related to the change in deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws governing periods in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company evaluates the realizability of deferred tax assets and provides a valuation allowance for amounts that management does not believe are more likely than not to be recoverable, as applicable. The annual effective tax rate is determined by income tax expense from continuing operations as a percentage of pre-tax book income. Differences in the effective tax rate and the statutory tax rate may be due to permanent items, tax credits, foreign tax rates and state tax rates in jurisdictions in which the Company operates, or changes in valuation allowances. The Company records reserves for uncertain tax positions when, despite the belief that tax return positions are fully supportable, it is anticipated that certain tax return positions are likely to be challenged and that the Company may not prevail. These reserves are adjusted for changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of a tax audit or the lapse of statutes of limitations.
Employee Benefit Plans	Employee Benefit Plans The Company provides full-time employees hired before January 1, 2003 with postretirement health care benefits. In order to measure the expense and funded status of these employee benefit plans, management makes several estimates and assumptions, including employee turnover rates, anticipated mortality rates and anticipated future healthcare cost trends. These estimates and assumptions are based on the Company's historical experience combined with management's knowledge and understanding of current facts and circumstances. The selection of the discount rate is based on an index given projected plan payouts.
New Accounting Standards	Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The FASB issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance in November 2018, April 2019 and May 2019 with ASU 2018-19, ASU 2019-04 and ASU 2019-05, respectively. This update changes the accounting for credit losses on loans and held-to-maturity debt securities and requires a current expected credit loss (CECL) approach to determine the allowance for credit losses. This includes allowances for trade receivables. Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted ASU 2016-13 using the modified retrospective transition method. This ASU amends the impairment model to utilize an expected loss methodology in place of the incurred loss methodology for financial instruments, including trade receivables, and off-balance sheet credit exposures. The amendment requires entities to consider a broader range of information to estimate expected credit losses, which may result in earlier recognition of losses. The impact of adopting this new standard on the Consolidated Financial Statements was not material. Cloud Computing Software In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. This ASU reduces the complexity of accounting for costs of implementing a cloud computing service arrangement. This standard aligns the accounting for implementation costs of hosting arrangements, regardless of whether they convey a license to the hosted software. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The adoption of this standard effective January 1, 2020 on the Consolidated Financial Statements is not material. Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) In March 2020, the FASB concluded its reference rate reform project and issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848). London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is a benchmark interest rate referenced in a variety of agreements that are used by all types of entities. At the end of 2021, banks will no longer be required to report information that is used to determine LIBOR. As a result, LIBOR could be discontinued. Other interest rates used globally could also be discontinued for similar reasons. The ASU provides companies with optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates that are expected to be discontinued. The optional amendments are effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020, through December 31, 2022. The Company has elected to adopt ASU 2020-04 immediately for all optional expedients provided for contract modification accounting as permissible under the standard. The impact of executing the standard should the need arise will be disclosed, however, at this time there has been no impact to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Effective Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The provisions of this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements. At this time the Company does not plan to early adopt the standard. Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope, which temporarily simplifies the accounting for contract modifications, including hedging relationships, due to the transition from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference interest rates. For example, entities can elect not to remeasure the contracts at the modification date or reassess a previous accounting determination if certain conditions are met. Additionally, entities can elect to continue applying hedge accounting for hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform if certain conditions are met. The new standard was effective upon issuance and generally can be applied to applicable contract modifications through December 31, 2022. We are currently evaluating the impact of the transition from LIBOR to alternative reference interest rates, but do not expect a significant impact to our operating results, financial position or cash flows.
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements Generally accepted accounting principles define fair value as an exit price and also establish a framework for measuring fair value. An exit price represents the amount that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, a three-tier fair value hierarchy is used, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: •Level 1 inputs: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets; •Level 2 inputs: Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly; and •Level 3 inputs: Unobservable inputs (e.g., a reporting entity's own data). In many cases, a valuation technique used to measure fair value includes inputs from multiple levels of the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level of significant input determines the placement of the entire fair value measurement in the hierarchy. Level 1 commodity derivatives reflect the fair value of the exchanged-traded futures and options contracts that the Company holds, net of the cash collateral that the Company has in its margin account. The majority of the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value are based on the market approach valuation technique. With the market approach, fair value is derived using prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The Company’s net commodity derivatives primarily consist of futures or options contracts via regulated exchanges and contracts with producers or customers under which the future settlement date and bushels (or gallons in the case of ethanol contracts) of commodities to be delivered (primarily wheat, corn, soybeans and ethanol) are fixed and under which the price may or may not be fixed. Depending on the specifics of the individual contracts, the fair value is derived from the futures or options prices quoted on various exchanges for similar commodities and delivery dates as well as observable quotes for local basis adjustments (the difference, which is attributable to local market conditions, between the quoted futures price and the local cash price). Because “basis” for a particular commodity and location typically has multiple quoted prices from other agribusinesses in the same geographical vicinity and is used as a common pricing mechanism in the agribusiness industry, the Company has concluded that “basis” is typically a Level 2 fair value input for purposes of the fair value disclosure requirements related to our commodity derivatives, depending on the specific commodity. Although nonperformance risk, both of the Company and the counterparty, is present in each of these commodity contracts and is a component of the estimated fair values, based on the Company’s historical experience with its producers and customers and the Company’s knowledge of their businesses, the Company does not view nonperformance risk to be a significant input to fair value for these commodity contracts. These fair value disclosures exclude RMI which consists of agricultural commodity inventories measured at net realizable value. The net realizable value used to measure the Company’s agricultural commodity inventories is the fair value (spot price of the commodity in an exchange), less cost of disposal and transportation based on the local market. This valuation would generally be considered Level 2. The amount of RMI is disclosed in Note 2. Changes in the net realizable value of commodity inventories are recognized as a component of cost of sales and merchandising revenues. Provisionally priced contract liabilities are those for which the Company has taken ownership and possession of a commodity, but the final purchase price has not been established. In the case of payables where the unpriced portion of the contract is limited to the futures price of the underlying commodity or the Company has delivered a provisionally priced commodity and a subsequent payable or receivable is set up for any future changes in the commodity price, quoted exchange prices are used and the liability is deemed to be Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. For all other unpriced contracts which include variable futures and basis components, the amounts recorded for delayed price contracts are determined on the basis of local grain market prices at the balance sheet date and, as such, are deemed to be Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The risk management contract liability allows related ethanol customers to effectively unprice the futures component of their inventory for a period of time, subjecting the bushels to market fluctuations. The Company records an asset or liability for the market value changes of the commodities over the life of the contracts based on quoted exchange prices and as such, the balance is deemed to be Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

These Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of The Andersons, Inc. and its wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries (the “Company”). All material intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in unconsolidated entities in which the Company has significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

At inception of joint venture transactions, we identify entities for which control is achieved through means other than voting rights (“variable interest entities” or “VIEs”) and determine which business enterprise is the primary beneficiary of its operations. A VIE is broadly defined as an entity where either (i) the equity investors as a group, if any, do not have a controlling financial interest, or (ii) the equity investment at risk is insufficient to finance that entity’s activities without additional subordinated financial support. The Company consolidates investments in VIEs when the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. This evaluation is based on an enterprise’s ability to direct and influence the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact that entity’s economic performance.

The Company evaluates its interests in VIEs on an ongoing basis and consolidates any VIE in which it has a controlling financial interest and is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. A controlling financial interest has both of the following characteristics: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to it or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE.

On October 1, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with Marathon Petroleum Corporation to merge The Andersons Albion Ethanol LLC (“TAAE”), The Andersons Clymers Ethanol LLC (“TACE”), The Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC (“TAME”) and the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, The Andersons Denison Ethanol LLC (“TADE”), into a new legal entity, The Andersons Marathon Holdings LLC ("TAMH"). The Company evaluated its interest in TAMH and determined that TAMH is a VIE and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of TAMH. This is due to the fact that the Company has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact TAMH and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from TAMH. Therefore, the Company consolidated TAMH in its financial statements.

On March 2, 2018, the Company invested in ELEMENT. The Company owns 51% of ELEMENT and ICM, Inc. owns the remaining 49% interest. As part of the Company’s investment into ELEMENT, the Company and ICM, Inc. entered into a number of agreements. Most notably, ICM, Inc. will operate the facility under a management contract and manage the initial construction of the facility, while the Company will provide corn origination, ethanol marketing, and risk management services. The Company evaluated its interest in ELEMENT and determined that ELEMENT is a VIE and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of ELEMENT. This is due to the fact that the Company has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact ELEMENT and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from ELEMENT. Therefore, the Company consolidates ELEMENT.

Use of Estimates and Assumptions

Use of Estimates and AssumptionsThe preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and short-term investments with an initial maturity of three months or less. The carrying values of these assets approximate their fair values.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful AccountsTrade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and may bear interest if past due. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the best estimate of the current expected credit losses in existing accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts is reviewed quarterly. The allowance is based both on specific identification of potentially uncollectible accounts and the application of a consistent policy, based on historical experience, to estimate the allowance necessary for the remaining accounts receivable. For those customers that are thought to be at higher risk, the Company makes assumptions as to collectability based on past history and facts about the current situation. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when it becomes more certain that the receivable will not be recovered. The Company manages its exposure to counterparty credit risk through credit analysis and approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures.

Commodity Derivatives and Inventories

The Company's operating results can be affected by changes to commodity prices. The Trade and Ethanol businesses have established “unhedged” position limits (the amount of a commodity, either owned or contracted for, that does not have an offsetting derivative contract to mitigate the price risk associated with those contracts and inventory). To reduce the exposure to market price risk on commodities owned and forward commodity and ethanol purchase and sale contracts, the Company enters into exchange traded commodity futures and options contracts and over-the-counter forward and option contracts with various counterparties. The forward purchase and sale contracts are for physical delivery of the commodity in a future period. Contracts to purchase commodities from producers generally relate to the current or future crop years for delivery periods quoted by regulated commodity exchanges. Contracts for the sale of commodities to processors or other commercial consumers generally do not extend beyond one year.

The Company accounts for its commodity derivatives at fair value. The estimated fair value of the commodity derivative contracts that require the receipt or posting of cash collateral is recorded on a net basis (offset against cash collateral posted or received, also known as margin deposits) within commodity derivative assets or liabilities. Management determines fair value based on exchange-quoted prices and in the case of its forward purchase and sale contracts, fair value is adjusted for differences in local markets and non-performance risk. While the Company considers certain of its commodity contracts to be effective economic hedges, the Company does not designate or account for its commodity contracts as hedges.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses in the value of commodity contracts (whether due to changes in commodity prices, changes in performance or credit risk, or due to sale, maturity or extinguishment of the commodity contract) and commodity inventories are included in cost of sales and merchandising revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additional information about the fair value of the Company's commodity derivatives is presented in Notes 5 and 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Readily Marketable Inventories, which are grain and other agricultural commodities, may be acquired under provisionally priced contracts, are stated at their net realizable value, which approximates estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation.

All other inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined by the average cost method. Additional information about inventories is presented in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Derivatives - Master Netting Arrangements

Generally accepted accounting principles permit a party to a master netting arrangement to offset fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments against the right to reclaim cash collateral or obligation to return cash collateral under the same master netting arrangement. The Company has master netting arrangements for its exchange traded futures and options contracts and certain over-the-counter contracts. When the Company enters into a futures, options or an over-the-counter contract, an initial margin deposit may be required by the counterparty. The amount of the margin deposit varies by commodity. If the market price of a futures, option or an over-the-counter contract moves in a direction that is adverse to the Company's position, an additional margin deposit, called a maintenance margin, is required. The Company nets, by counterparty, its futures and over-the-counter positions against the cash collateral provided or received. The margin deposit assets and liabilities are included in short-term commodity derivative assets or liabilities, as appropriate, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Additional information about the Company's master netting arrangements is presented in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Derivatives - Interest Rate and Foreign Currency Contracts

The Company periodically enters into interest rate contracts to manage interest rate risk on borrowing or financing activities. The Company has long-term interest rate swaps recorded in other assets or other long-term liabilities that expire from 2021 to 2025 and have been designated as cash flow hedges; accordingly, changes in the fair value of the instruments are recognized in other comprehensive income. The Company has other interest rate contracts recorded in other assets that are not designated as hedges. While the Company considers all of its derivative positions to be effective economic hedges of specified risks, these interest rate contracts for which hedge accounting is not applied are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in either other current assets or liabilities (if short-term in nature) or in other assets or other long-term liabilities (if non-current in nature), and changes in fair value are recognized in current earnings as interest expense. Upon termination of a derivative instrument or a change in the hedged item, any remaining fair value recorded on the balance sheet is recorded as interest expense consistent with the cash flows associated with the underlying hedged item. Information regarding the nature and terms of the Company's interest rate derivatives is presented in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Marketing Agreement

Marketing AgreementThe Company has a marketing agreement that covers certain of its grain facilities, some of which are leased from Cargill. Under the five-year amended and restated agreement (renewed in June 2018 and ending May 2023), any grain the Company sells to Cargill is at market price. Income earned from operating the facilities (including buying, storing and selling grain and providing grain marketing services to its producer customers) over a specified threshold is shared equally with Cargill. Measurement of this threshold is made on a cumulative basis and cash is paid to Cargill on an annual basis. The Company recognizes its pro rata share of this profit-sharing arrangement as a reduction of revenue in our Consolidated Statements of Operations every month and accrues for any payment owed to Cargill.

Rail Group Assets Leased to Others

Rail Assets Leased to Others

The Company's Rail segment purchases, leases, markets and manages railcars and barges for third parties and for internal use. Rail assets to which the Company holds title are shown on the balance sheet in one of two categories - other current assets (for those that are available for sale) or Rail assets leased to others. Rail assets leased to others, both on short and long-term leases, are classified as long-term assets and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives.

Railcars have statutory lives of either 40 or 50 years, measured from the date built. Barges have estimated lives of 30 to 40 years, measured from the date built. At the time of purchase, the remaining life is used in determining useful lives which are depreciated on a straight-line basis. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred. Additional information regarding Rail assets leased to others is presented in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and EquipmentProperty, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred, while betterments that extend useful lives are capitalized. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets, by the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives are generally as follows: land improvements - 16 years; leasehold improvements - the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvement, ranging from 3 to 20 years; buildings and storage facilities - 10 to 40 years; and machinery and equipment - 3 to 20 years. The cost of assets retired or otherwise disposed of and the accumulated depreciation thereon are removed from the accounts, with any gain or loss realized upon sale or disposal credited or charged to operations.

Deferred Debt Issue Costs

Costs associated with the issuance of debt are deferred and recorded net with debt. These costs are amortized, as a component of interest expense, over the earlier of the stated term of the debt or the period from the issue date through the first early payoff date without penalty, or the expected payoff date if the loan does not contain a prepayment penalty. Deferred costs associated with the borrowing arrangement with a syndication of banks are amortized over the term of the agreement.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill is subject to annual impairment tests or more often when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may be impaired. A goodwill impairment loss is recognized to the extent the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the business enterprise value. Additional information about the Company's goodwill and other intangible assets is presented in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Acquired intangible assets are recorded at cost, less accumulated amortization, if not indefinite lived. In addition, we capitalize the salaries and payroll-related costs of employees and consultants who devote time to the development of internal-use software projects. If a project constitutes an enhancement to previously-developed software, we assess whether the enhancement is significant and creates additional functionality to the software, thus qualifying the work incurred for capitalization. Once a project is complete, we estimate the useful life of the internal-use software. Changes in our estimates related to internal-use software would increase or decrease operating expenses or amortization recorded during the period.

Amortization of intangible assets is provided over their estimated useful lives (generally 1 to 10 years) on the straight-line method.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

Impairment of Long-lived Assets and Equity Method Investments

Long-lived assets, including intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to the undiscounted future net cash flows the Company expects to generate with the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the Company recognizes an impairment loss for the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets.

Provisionally Priced Grain Contracts

Provisionally Priced Commodity Contracts

Accounts payable includes certain amounts related to commodity purchases for which, even though the Company has taken ownership and possession of the commodity the final purchase price has not been fully established. If the futures and basis components are unpriced, it is referred to as a delayed price payable. If the futures component has not been established, but the basis has been set, it is referred to as a basis payable. The unpriced portion of these payables will be exposed to changes in the fair value of the underlying commodity based on quoted prices on commodity exchanges (or basis levels). Those payables that are fully priced are not considered derivative instruments.

The Company also enters into contracts with customers for risk management purposes that allow the customers to effectively unprice the futures component of their inventory for a period of time, subjecting the commodities to market fluctuations. The Company records an asset or liability for the market value changes of the commodities over the life of the contracts based on quoted exchange prices.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense for all stock-based compensation awards is based on the estimated grant-date fair value. The Company recognizes these compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, adjusted for revisions to performance expectations. Additional information about the Company's stock compensation plans is presented in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Per Share Data

Basic earnings per common share are determined by dividing net earnings attributable to controlling interests by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. In computing diluted earnings per share, average number of common shares outstanding is increased by unvested stock awards and common stock options outstanding with exercise prices lower than the average market price of common shares using the treasury share method. At December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, all options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as the exercise price of the options were less than the average market price of the common shares.

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s revenue consists of sales from commodity contracts that are accounted for under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815), rental revenues from leases that are accounted for under ASC 842, Leases, and sales of other products and services that are accounted for under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606).

Revenue from commodity contracts (ASC 815)

Revenue from commodity contracts primarily relates to forward sales of commodities in the Company’s Trade and Ethanol segments, such as corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, ethanol, and corn oil, which are accounted for as derivatives at fair value under ASC 815. These forward sales meet the definition of a derivative under ASC 815 as they have an underlying (e.g. the price of corn), a notional amount (e.g. metric tons), no initial net investment and can be net settled since the commodity is readily convertible to cash. The Company does not apply the normal purchase and normal sale exception available under ASC 815 to these contracts.

Revenue from commodity contracts is recognized in Sales and merchandising revenues for the contractually stated amount when the contracts are settled. Settlement of the commodity contracts generally occurs upon shipment or delivery of the product, when title and risks and rewards of ownership transfers to the customer. Prior to settlement, these forward sales contracts are recognized at fair value with the unrealized gains or losses recorded within Cost of sales and merchandising revenues. Additional information about the fair value of the Company's commodity derivatives is presented in Notes 5 and 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

There are certain transactions that allow for pricing to occur after title of the goods has passed to the customer. In these cases, the Company continues to report the goods in inventory until it recognizes the sales revenue once the price has been determined. Direct ship commodity sales (where the Company never takes physical possession of the commodity) are recognized based on the terms of the contract.

Certain of the Company's operations provide for customer billings, deposits or prepayments for product that is stored at the Company's facilities. The sales and gross profit related to these transactions are not recognized until the product is shipped in accordance with the previously stated revenue recognition policy and these amounts are classified as a current liability titled “Customer prepayments and deferred revenue”.

Revenue from leases (ASC 842)

The Company has a diversified fleet of car types (boxcars, gondolas, covered and open top hopper cars, flat cars, tank cars and pressure differential cars), locomotives and barges serving a broad customer base. While most of these assets are owned by the Company, it also leases assets from financial intermediaries through sale-leaseback transactions, the majority of which involve operating leases. The Company's Rail leases these assets to customers under operating leases, which includes managing the assets for third parties. In exchange for conveying the right to use these railcars to the lessee, the Company receives a fixed monthly rental payment, which is typically expressed on a “per car” basis in the lease agreement. Revenue from these arrangements is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Certain of the Company's leases include monthly lease fees that are contingent upon some measure of usage (“per diem” leases). This monthly usage is tracked, billed and collected by third-party service providers and funds are generally remitted to the Company along with usage data three months after they are earned. The Company records lease revenue for these per diem arrangements based on recent historical usage patterns and records a true-up adjustment when the actual data is received. Such true-up adjustments were not significant for any period presented.

Revenue related to railcar or other asset servicing and maintenance contracts is recognized over the term of the lease or service contract.

Revenue from contracts with customers (ASC 606)Revenue from contracts with customers accounted for under ASC 606 is primarily generated in the Plant Nutrient segment through the sale of agricultural and related plant nutrients, corncob-based products, pelleted lime and gypsum products. The Company recognizes revenue from these contracts at a point in time when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of a product to a customer, generally when legal title and risks and rewards of ownership transfer to the customer.

Lease Accounting

Lease AccountingOn January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC 842 using the modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach recognizes the effects of initially applying the new leases standard as a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the adoption date. Under this election, the provisions of ASC 840 apply to the accounting and disclosures for lease arrangements in the comparative periods in an entity’s financial statements. In addition, the Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within ASC 842, in which the Company need not reassess (i) the historical lease classification, (ii) whether any expired or existing contract is or contains a lease, or (iii) the initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company recognizes a right of use asset and a corresponding lease liability equal to the present value of the remaining minimum lease payments related to both its operating and finance rail leases.

Lease Accounting

Income Taxes

Income tax expense for each period includes current tax expense plus deferred expense, which is related to the change in deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws governing periods in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company evaluates the realizability of deferred tax assets and provides a valuation allowance for amounts that management does not believe are more likely than not to be recoverable, as applicable.

The annual effective tax rate is determined by income tax expense from continuing operations as a percentage of pre-tax book income. Differences in the effective tax rate and the statutory tax rate may be due to permanent items, tax credits, foreign tax rates and state tax rates in jurisdictions in which the Company operates, or changes in valuation allowances.

The Company records reserves for uncertain tax positions when, despite the belief that tax return positions are fully supportable, it is anticipated that certain tax return positions are likely to be challenged and that the Company may not prevail. These reserves are adjusted for changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of a tax audit or the lapse of statutes of limitations.

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans The Company provides full-time employees hired before January 1, 2003 with postretirement health care benefits. In order to measure the expense and funded status of these employee benefit plans, management makes several estimates and assumptions, including employee turnover rates, anticipated mortality rates and anticipated future healthcare cost trends. These estimates and assumptions are based on the Company's historical experience combined with management's knowledge and understanding of current facts and circumstances. The selection of the discount rate is based on an index given projected plan payouts.

New Accounting Standards

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The FASB issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance in November 2018, April 2019 and May 2019 with ASU 2018-19, ASU 2019-04 and ASU 2019-05, respectively. This update changes the accounting for credit losses on loans and held-to-maturity debt securities and requires a current expected credit loss (CECL) approach to determine the allowance for credit losses. This includes allowances for trade receivables. Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted ASU 2016-13 using the modified retrospective transition method. This ASU amends the impairment model to utilize an expected loss methodology in place of the incurred loss methodology for financial instruments, including trade receivables, and off-balance sheet credit exposures. The amendment requires entities to consider a broader range of information to estimate expected credit losses, which may result in earlier recognition of losses. The impact of adopting this new standard on the Consolidated Financial Statements was not material.

Cloud Computing Software

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. This ASU reduces the complexity of accounting for costs of implementing a cloud computing service arrangement. This standard aligns the accounting for implementation costs of hosting arrangements, regardless of whether they convey a license to the hosted software. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The adoption of this standard effective January 1, 2020 on the Consolidated Financial Statements is not material.

Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)

In March 2020, the FASB concluded its reference rate reform project and issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848). London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is a benchmark interest rate referenced in a variety of agreements that are used by all types of entities. At the end of 2021, banks will no longer be required to report information that is used to determine LIBOR. As a result, LIBOR could be discontinued. Other interest rates used globally could also be discontinued for similar reasons. The ASU provides companies with optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates that are expected to be discontinued. The optional amendments are effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020, through December 31, 2022. The Company has elected to adopt ASU 2020-04 immediately for all optional expedients provided for contract modification accounting as permissible under the standard. The impact of executing the standard should the need arise will be disclosed, however, at this time there has been no impact to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Effective

Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The provisions of this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements. At this time the Company does not plan to early adopt the standard.

Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)

In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope, which temporarily simplifies the accounting for contract modifications, including hedging relationships, due to the transition from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference interest rates. For example, entities can elect not to remeasure the contracts at the modification date or reassess a previous accounting determination if certain conditions are met. Additionally, entities can elect to continue applying hedge accounting for hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform if certain conditions are met. The new standard was effective upon issuance and generally can be applied to applicable contract modifications through December 31, 2022. We are currently evaluating the impact of the transition from LIBOR to alternative reference interest rates, but do not expect a significant impact to our operating results, financial position or cash flows.

Fair Value Measurements

Generally accepted accounting principles define fair value as an exit price and also establish a framework for measuring fair value. An exit price represents the amount that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, a three-tier fair value hierarchy is used, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

•Level 1 inputs: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets;

•Level 2 inputs: Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly; and

•Level 3 inputs: Unobservable inputs (e.g., a reporting entity's own data).

In many cases, a valuation technique used to measure fair value includes inputs from multiple levels of the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level of significant input determines the placement of the entire fair value measurement in the hierarchy.

Level 1 commodity derivatives reflect the fair value of the exchanged-traded futures and options contracts that the Company holds, net of the cash collateral that the Company has in its margin account.

The majority of the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value are based on the market approach valuation technique. With the market approach, fair value is derived using prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities.

The Company’s net commodity derivatives primarily consist of futures or options contracts via regulated exchanges and contracts with producers or customers under which the future settlement date and bushels (or gallons in the case of ethanol contracts) of commodities to be delivered (primarily wheat, corn, soybeans and ethanol) are fixed and under which the price may or may not be fixed. Depending on the specifics of the individual contracts, the fair value is derived from the futures or options prices quoted on various exchanges for similar commodities and delivery dates as well as observable quotes for local basis adjustments (the difference, which is attributable to local market conditions, between the quoted futures price and the local cash price). Because “basis” for a particular commodity and location typically has multiple quoted prices from other agribusinesses in the same geographical vicinity and is used as a common pricing mechanism in the agribusiness industry, the Company has concluded that “basis” is typically a Level 2 fair value input for purposes of the fair value disclosure requirements related to our commodity derivatives, depending on the specific commodity. Although nonperformance risk, both of the Company and the counterparty, is present in each of these commodity contracts and is a component of the estimated fair values, based on the Company’s historical experience with its producers and customers and the Company’s knowledge of their businesses, the Company does not view nonperformance risk to be a significant input to fair value for these commodity contracts.

These fair value disclosures exclude RMI which consists of agricultural commodity inventories measured at net realizable value. The net realizable value used to measure the Company’s agricultural commodity inventories is the fair value (spot price of the commodity in an exchange), less cost of disposal and transportation based on the local market. This valuation would generally be considered Level 2. The amount of RMI is disclosed in Note 2. Changes in the net realizable value of commodity inventories are recognized as a component of cost of sales and merchandising revenues.

Provisionally priced contract liabilities are those for which the Company has taken ownership and possession of a commodity, but the final purchase price has not been established. In the case of payables where the unpriced portion of the contract is limited to the futures price of the underlying commodity or the Company has delivered a provisionally priced commodity and a subsequent payable or receivable is set up for any future changes in the commodity price, quoted exchange prices are used and the liability is deemed to be Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. For all other unpriced contracts which include variable futures and basis components, the amounts recorded for delayed price contracts are determined on the basis of local grain market prices at the balance sheet date and, as such, are deemed to be Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The risk management contract liability allows related ethanol customers to effectively unprice the futures component of their inventory for a period of time, subjecting the bushels to market fluctuations. The Company records an asset or liability for the market value changes of the commodities over the life of the contracts based on quoted exchange prices and as such, the balance is deemed to be Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.