Benefit Plans

Employee benefits information for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:



	Qualified Pension Benefits						Non-Qualified Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
	2013			2012			2013		2012		2013			2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
Components of net periodic benefit costs for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:
Service cost	$	7,467		$	7,216		$	179	$	165	$	482		$	633
Interest cost	6,698			6,505			336		323		519			616
Expected return on assets	(12,734		)	(11,956		)
Prior service cost (credit) amortization	399			399			57		57		(30		)	(4		)
Actuarial loss amortization	4,644			5,231			227		211					223
Transition amount amortization											124			175
Net periodic benefit cost	$	6,474		$	7,395		$	799	$	756	$	1,095		$	1,643

Employer Contributions:

Total contributions to be made during fiscal 2014, 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, 2013, 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 2014.