Benefit Plans

Employee benefits information for the three and six months ended February 28, 2013 and February 29, 2012 is as follows:



	Qualified Pension Benefits						Non-Qualified Pension Benefits					Other Benefits
	2013			2012			2013		2012			2013			2012
Components of net periodic benefit costs for the three months ended February 28, 2013 and February 29, 2012 is as follows:
Service cost	$	7,216		$	6,501		$	164	$	(31	)	$	634		$	511
Interest cost	6,501			5,909			324		348			616			637
Expected return on assets	(11,967		)	(9,985		)
Prior service cost (credit) amortization	400			458			57		57			(5		)	(26		)
Actuarial loss amortization	5,230			3,744			211		113			223			206
Transition amount amortization												174			234
Net periodic benefit cost	$	7,380		$	6,627		$	756	$	487		$	1,642		$	1,562
Components of net periodic benefit costs for the six months ended February 28, 2013 and February 29, 2012 is as follows:
Service cost	$	14,432		$	13,003		$	329	$	141		$	1,267		$	1,021
Interest cost	13,006			11,844			647		696			1,232			1,273
Expected return on assets	(23,923		)	(20,009		)
Prior service cost (credit) amortization	799			916			114		114			(9		)	(52		)
Actuarial loss amortization	10,461			7,476			422		225			446			413
Transition amount amortization												349			468
Net periodic benefit cost	$	14,775		$	13,230		$	1,512	$	1,176		$	3,285		$	3,123

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 six months ended February 28, 2013, CHS and NCRA made no contributions to the pension plans. At this time, we do not anticipate having to make contributions to our benefit plans in fiscal 2013, however, we may voluntarily elect to do so.