Benefit Plans

Employee benefits information for the three months ended November 30, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:



	Qualified Pension Benefits						Non-Qualified Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
	2012			2011			2012		2011		2012			2011
	(Dollars in thousands)
Components of net periodic benefit costs for the three months ended November 30, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:
Service cost	$	7,216		$	6,502		$	165	$	172	$	633		$	510
Interest cost	6,505			5,935			323		348		616			636
Expected return on assets	(11,956		)	(10,024		)
Prior service cost (credit) amortization	399			458			57		57		(4		)	(26		)
Actuarial loss amortization	5,231			3,732			211		112		223			207
Transition amount amortization											175			234
Net periodic benefit cost	$	7,395		$	6,603		$	756	$	689	$	1,643		$	1,561

Employer Contributions:

Total contributions to be made during fiscal 2013, including the NCRA plan, will depend primarily on market returns on the pension plan assets and minimum funding level requirements. During the three months ended November 30, 2012, CHS and NCRA made no contributions to the pension plans. At this time, we do not anticipate having to make a contribution for our benefit plans in fiscal 2013.