Inventories (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Inventories

Summary of inventories

	December 31,
(Thousands of dollars)	2011			2010
At lower of LIFO cost or market:
Live hogs and materials	$	228,624		$	200,600
Fresh pork and materials	29,426			24,779
	258,050			225,379
LIFO adjustment	(57,783		)	(24,085		)
Total inventories at lower of LIFO cost or market	200,267			201,294
At lower of FIFO cost or market:
Grains and oilseeds	251,839			203,232
Sugar produced and in process	78,730			50,190
Other	63,449			44,013
Total inventories at lower of FIFO cost or market	394,018			297,435
Grain, flour and feed at lower of weighted average cost or market	50,645			35,032
Total inventories	$	644,930		$	533,761