Employee Benefit Plans

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2011

Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

Note 9. Employee Benefit Plans

Employee benefits information for the three months ended November 30, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:

	Qualified Pension Benefits						Non-Qualified Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
	2011			2010			2011		2010		2011			2010
Components of net periodic benefit costs for the three months ended November 30, 2011 and 2010:
Service cost	$	6,502		$	6,467		$	172	$	320	$	510		$	420
Interest cost		5,935			5,505			348		497		636			509
Expected return on plan assets		(10,024	)		(10,475	)
Prior service cost (credit) amortization		458			582			57		35		(26	)		(31	)
Actuarial loss amortization		3,732			3,964			112		253		207			87
Transition amount amortization												234			235
Net periodic benefit cost	$	6,603		$	6,043		$	689	$	1,105	$	1,561		$	1,220

Employer Contributions:

Total contributions to be made during fiscal 2012, 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, 2011, 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 2012.