Inventories

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Inventories [Abstract]

Inventories

2. Inventories

Major classes of inventories are as follows:

(in thousands)	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011		March 31, 2011
Grain	$	589,039	$	570,337	$	558,467
Ethanol and by-products		4,416		5,461		4,768
Agricultural fertilizer and supplies		129,186		118,716		153,559
Lawn and garden fertilizer and corncob products		30,017		37,001		27,396
Retail merchandise		31,681		25,612		27,800
Railcar repair parts		2,992		3,063		2,715
Other		315		269		312
	$	787,646	$	760,459	$	775,017