Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2013
Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation
Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation	Note 1 –Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Seaboard Corporation and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries (“Seaboard”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Seaboard’s investments in non-consolidated affiliates are accounted for by the equity method. The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of Seaboard for the year ended December 31, 2012 as filed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K. Seaboard’s first three quarterly periods include approximately 13 weekly periods ending on the Saturday closest to the end of March, June and September. Seaboard’s year-end is December 31. The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full year. As Seaboard conducts its commodity trading business with third parties, consolidated subsidiaries and non-consolidated affiliates on an interrelated basis, gross margin on non-consolidated affiliates cannot be clearly distinguished without making numerous assumptions primarily with respect to mark-to-market accounting for commodity derivatives. Use of Estimates The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include those related to allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation of inventories, impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets, income taxes and accrued pension liability. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Supplemental Non-Cash Transactions As discussed in Note 9, effective January 1, 2012, Seaboard began consolidation accounting and discontinued the equity method of accounting for their investment in PS International, LLC with Seaboard’s ownership interest increasing from 50% to 70% as a result of cash paid, net of cash acquired of $2,825,000 in January 2012. An additional payment was made in 2012 subsequent to the third quarter of 2012 for this transaction upon final verification of certain balance sheet items as of December 31, 2011. On December 31, 2012, Seaboard further increased its ownership from 70% to 85%. Total cash paid during the first quarter 2012, net of cash acquired was $2,825,000, and increased working capital by $14,419,000, fixed assets by $163,000, goodwill by $2,590,000, intangible assets by $621,000, other long-term assets by $96,000, non-controlling interest by $5,649,000 and decreased investment in and advances to affiliates by $9,415,000. A final payment of $515,000 was made in the second quarter of 2013, which increased intangible assets. See Note 9 for additional information. During the third quarter of 2013, Seaboard finalized the details of its investment in and long-term loan to a bakery business in the Democratic Republic of Congo in which Seaboard has a 50% non-controlling interest, resulting in decreasing investments in and advances to affiliates and increasing long-term notes receivable from affiliates by $26,290,000 for amounts previously advanced prior to 2013. This interest bearing note receivable has a decreasing balance with a final maturity date of December 2020. As discussed in Note 9, Seaboard has a note receivable from an affiliate which accrues pay-in-kind interest income. Seaboard recognized $3,397,000 and $9,828,000, respectively, of non-cash, pay-in-kind interest income and accretion of discount for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2013 and $2,989,000 and $8,747,000, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012, respectively, primarily related to this note receivable.

Note 1 –Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Seaboard Corporation and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries (“Seaboard”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Seaboard’s investments in non-consolidated affiliates are accounted for by the equity method. The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of Seaboard for the year ended December 31, 2012 as filed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K. Seaboard’s first three quarterly periods include approximately 13 weekly periods ending on the Saturday closest to the end of March, June and September. Seaboard’s year-end is December 31.

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full year. As Seaboard conducts its commodity trading business with third parties, consolidated subsidiaries and non-consolidated affiliates on an interrelated basis, gross margin on non-consolidated affiliates cannot be clearly distinguished without making numerous assumptions primarily with respect to mark-to-market accounting for commodity derivatives.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include those related to allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation of inventories, impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets, income taxes and accrued pension liability. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Supplemental Non-Cash Transactions

As discussed in Note 9, effective January 1, 2012, Seaboard began consolidation accounting and discontinued the equity method of accounting for their investment in PS International, LLC with Seaboard’s ownership interest increasing from 50% to 70% as a result of cash paid, net of cash acquired of $2,825,000 in January 2012. An additional payment was made in 2012 subsequent to the third quarter of 2012 for this transaction upon final verification of certain balance sheet items as of December 31, 2011. On December 31, 2012, Seaboard further increased its ownership from 70% to 85%. Total cash paid during the first quarter 2012, net of cash acquired was $2,825,000, and increased working capital by $14,419,000, fixed assets by $163,000, goodwill by $2,590,000, intangible assets by $621,000, other long-term assets by $96,000, non-controlling interest by $5,649,000 and decreased investment in and advances to affiliates by $9,415,000. A final payment of $515,000 was made in the second quarter of 2013, which increased intangible assets. See Note 9 for additional information.

During the third quarter of 2013, Seaboard finalized the details of its investment in and long-term loan to a bakery business in the Democratic Republic of Congo in which Seaboard has a 50% non-controlling interest, resulting in decreasing investments in and advances to affiliates and increasing long-term notes receivable from affiliates by $26,290,000 for amounts previously advanced prior to 2013. This interest bearing note receivable has a decreasing balance with a final maturity date of December 2020.

As discussed in Note 9, Seaboard has a note receivable from an affiliate which accrues pay-in-kind interest income. Seaboard recognized $3,397,000 and $9,828,000, respectively, of non-cash, pay-in-kind interest income and accretion of discount for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2013 and $2,989,000 and $8,747,000, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012, respectively, primarily related to this note receivable.