Inventories (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Inventories (Tables) [Abstract]

Classes of inventories

	December 31,
(in thousands)	2011		2010
Grain	$	570,337	$	493,911
Ethanol		5,461		3,356
Agricultural fertilizer and supplies		118,716		90,182
Lawn and garden fertilizer and corncob products		37,001		32,954
Retail merchandise		25,612		24,416
Railcar repair parts		3,063		2,058
Other		269		312
	$	760,459	$	647,189