Receivables

Receivables as of August 31, 2019 and 2018, are as follows:



	2019		2018
	(Dollars in thousands)
Trade accounts receivable	$	1,803,284	$	1,578,764
CHS Capital short-term notes receivable	592,909		569,379
Other	511,821		534,071
Gross receivables	2,908,014		2,682,214
Less allowances and reserves	176,805		221,813
Total receivables	$	2,731,209	$	2,460,401

Trade Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are initially recorded at a selling price that approximates fair value upon the sale of goods or services to customers. Subsequently, trade accounts receivable are carried at net realizable value, which includes an allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts. We calculate this allowance based on our history of write-offs, level of past due accounts and our relationships with and the economic status of our customers. Receivables from related parties are disclosed in Note 17, Related Party Transactions. No third-party customer accounted for more than 10% of the total receivables balance as of August 31, 2019 or 2018.

CHS Capital

Notes Receivable

CHS Capital, our wholly-owned subsidiary, has short-term notes receivable from commercial and producer borrowers. The short-term notes receivable have maturity terms of 12 months or less and are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balances, adjusted for the allowance of loan losses, as CHS Capital has the intent and ability to hold the applicable loans for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off. The carrying value of CHS Capital short-term notes receivable approximates fair value given the notes' short-term duration and use of market pricing adjusted for risk.

Notes receivable from commercial borrowers are collateralized by various combinations of mortgages, personal property, accounts and notes receivable, inventories and assignments of certain regional cooperative's capital stock. These loans are primarily originated in the states of North Dakota and Minnesota. CHS Capital also has loans receivable from producer borrowers that are collateralized by various combinations of growing crops, livestock, inventories, accounts receivable, personal property and supplemental mortgages and are originated in the same states as the commercial notes.

In addition to the short-term balances included in the table above, CHS Capital had long-term notes receivable, with durations of generally not more than 10 years, totaling $180.0 million and $203.0 million at August 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The long-term notes receivable are included in other assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of August 31, 2019 and 2018, commercial notes represented 41% and 40%, respectively, and producer notes represented 59% and 60%, respectively, of total CHS Capital notes receivable.

CHS Capital has commitments to extend credit to customers if there are no violations of any contractually established conditions. As of August 31, 2019, CHS Capital customers had additional available credit of $650.6 million.

Allowance for Loan Losses and Impairments

CHS Capital maintains an allowance for loan losses that is an estimate of potential incurred losses inherent in the loans receivable portfolio. In accordance with FASB ASC 450-20, Accounting for Loss Contingencies, and ASC 310-10, Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan, the allowance for loan losses consists of general and specific components. The general component is based on historical loss experience and qualitative factors addressing operational risks and industry trends. The specific component relates to loans receivable that are classified as impaired. Additions to the allowance for loan losses are reflected within reserve and impairment charges (recoveries), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The portion of loans receivable deemed uncollectible is charged off against the allowance. Recoveries of previously charged off amounts increase the allowance for loan losses. No significant amounts of CHS Capital notes were past due as of August 31, 2019 or 2018, and specific and general loan loss reserves related to CHS Capital notes were not material as of either date.

Interest Income

Interest income is recognized on the accrual basis using a method that computes simple interest on a daily basis. Accrual of interest on commercial loans receivable is discontinued at the time the receivable is 90 days past due unless the credit is well-collateralized and in process of collection. Past due status is based on contractual terms of the loan. Producer loans receivable are placed in non-accrual status based on estimates and analysis due to the annual debt service terms inherent to CHS Capital's producer loans. In all cases, loans are placed in non-accrual status or charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful.

Troubled Debt Restructurings

Restructuring of a loan constitutes a troubled debt restructuring, or restructured loan, if the creditor for economic reasons related to the debtor’s financial difficulties grants a concession to the debtor that it would otherwise not consider. Concessions vary by program and borrower. Concessions may include interest rate reductions, term extensions, payment deferrals or the acceptance of additional collateral in lieu of payments. In limited circumstances, principal may be forgiven. When a restructured loan constitutes a troubled debt restructuring, CHS includes these loans within its impaired loans. CHS Capital had no significant troubled debt restructurings and no third-party borrowers that accounted for more than 10% of the total CHS Capital notes receivable or total receivables as of August 31, 2019 or 2018.

Loan Participations

During fiscal 2019, CHS Capital sold $92.3 million of notes receivable to numerous counterparties under a master participation agreement. The sale resulted in the removal of notes receivable from the Consolidated Balance Sheet. CHS Capital has no retained interests in the transferred notes receivable, other than collection and administrative services. Proceeds from sales of notes receivable have been included in investing activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Fees received related to the servicing of notes receivable are recorded in other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. We consider the fees received adequate compensation for services rendered and, accordingly, have recorded no servicing asset or liability.

Other Receivables

Other receivables are comprised of certain other amounts recorded in the normal course of business, including receivables related to value-added taxes, certain financing receivables and pre-crop financing, primarily to Brazilian farmers, to finance a portion of supplier production costs. We do not bear costs or operational risks associated with the related growing crops, although our ability to be paid depends on the crops actually being produced. The financing is collateralized by future crops, land and physical assets of the suppliers, carries a local market interest rate and settles when the farmer's crop is harvested and sold. No significant troubled debt restructurings occurred and no third-party customer or borrower accounted for more than 10% of the total receivables balance as of August 31, 2019 or 2018.

We identified and recorded an out-of-period adjustment to correct an error related to multiple years that increased bad debt expense for other receivables by $25.5 million during the year ended August 31, 2019. We concluded that the error is not material to the previously reported financial statements and its correction is not material to the financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2019.