Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2012

Fair Value Measurements

J.Fair value measurements

Derivative Financial Instruments

The following table presents Ferrellgas’ financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis for each of the fair value hierarchy levels, including both current and noncurrent portions, as of July 31, 2012 and 2011:

	Asset (Liability)
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
July 31, 2012:
Assets:
Derivative financial instruments:
Interest rate swap agreements	$	-	$	7,784	$	-	$	7,784
Commodity derivatives propane swaps		-		1,049		-		1,049
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments:
Interest rate swap agreements	$	-	$	(1,778)	$	-	$	(1,778)
Commodity derivatives propane swaps		-		(12,069)		-		(12,069)
July 31, 2011:
Assets:
Derivative financial instruments:
Commodity derivatives propane swaps	$	-	$	7,637	$	-	$	7,637
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments:
Commodity derivatives propane swaps	$	-	$	(2,476)	$	-	$	(2,476)

The fair values of Ferrellgas’ non-exchange traded commodity derivative contracts are based upon indicative price quotations available through brokers, industry price publications or recent market transactions and related market indicators. The fair values of interest rate swap contracts are based upon third-party quotes or indicative values based on recent market transactions.

Other Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of other financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities (except for current maturities of long-term debt) approximate their fair values because of their short-term nature. At July 31, 2012 and July 31, 2011, the estimated fair value of Ferrellgas’ long-term debt instruments was $1,173.4 million and $1,134.2 million, respectively. Ferrellgas estimates the fair value of long-term debt based on  quoted market prices.

Ferrellgas has other financial instruments such as trade accounts receivable which could expose it to concentrations of credit risk. The credit risk from trade accounts receivable is limited because of a large customer base which extends across many different U.S. markets.

Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]

Fair Value Measurements

J.  Fair value measurements

Derivative Financial Instruments

The following table presents Ferrellgas L.P.’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis for each of the fair value hierarchy levels, including both current and noncurrent portions, as of July 31, 2012 and 2011:

		Asset (Liability)
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
July 31, 2012:
Assets:
Derivative financial instruments:
Interest rate swap agreements	$	-	$	7,784	$	-	$	7,784
Commodity derivatives propane swaps		-		1,049		-		1,049
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments:
Interest rate swap agreements	$	-	$	(1,778)	$	-	$	(1,778)
Commodity derivatives propane swaps		-		(12,069)		-		(12,069)
July 31, 2011:
Assets:
Derivative financial instruments:
Commodity derivatives propane swaps	$	-	$	7,637	$	-	$	7,637
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments:
Commodity derivatives propane swaps	$	-	$	(2,476)	$	-	$	(2,476)

The fair values of Ferrellgas L.P.’s non-exchange traded commodity derivative contracts are based upon indicative price quotations available through brokers, industry price publications or recent market transactions and related market indicators. The fair values of interest rate swap contracts are based upon third-party quotes or indicative values based on recent market transactions.

Other Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of other financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities (except for current maturities of long-term debt) approximate their fair values because of their short-term nature. At July 31, 2012 and July 31, 2011, the estimated fair value of Ferrellgas L.P.’s long-term debt instruments was $991.6 million and $941.3 million, respectively. Ferrellgas estimates the fair value of long-term debt based on quoted market prices.

Ferrellgas L.P.  has other financial instruments such as trade accounts receivable which could expose it to concentrations of credit risk. The credit risk from trade accounts receivable is limited because of a large customer base which extends across many different U.S. markets.