v2.4.0.8
Segment Information
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
Segment Information
Segment Information
The Company’s operations include six reportable business segments that are distinguished primarily on the basis of products and services offered. The Grain business includes grain merchandising, the operation of terminal grain elevator facilities and the investments in Lansing Trade Group, LLC (“LTG”) and the Thompsons Limited joint ventures. The Ethanol business purchases and sells ethanol and also manages the ethanol production facilities organized as limited liability companies, one is consolidated and three are investments accounted for under the equity method. There are various service contracts for these investments. Rail operations include the leasing, marketing and fleet management of railcars and other assets, railcar repair and metal fabrication. The Plant Nutrient business manufactures and distributes agricultural inputs, primarily fertilizer, to dealers and farmers. Turf & Specialty operations include the production and distribution of turf care and corncob-based products. The Retail business operates large retail stores, a specialty food market, a distribution center and a lawn and garden equipment sales and service facility. Included in “Other” are the corporate level amounts not attributable to an operating segment.
The segment information below includes the allocation of expenses shared by one or more operating segments. Although management believes such allocations are reasonable, the operating information does not necessarily reflect how such data might appear if the segments were operated as separate businesses. Inter-segment sales are made at prices comparable to normal, unaffiliated customer sales.

 
Three months ended
September 30,
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Revenues from external customers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grain
$
575,354

 
$
765,833

 
$
1,814,517

 
$
2,493,678

Ethanol
179,405

 
213,384

 
594,613

 
634,933

Plant Nutrient
110,809

 
95,681

 
530,334

 
537,922

Rail
32,022

 
47,523

 
117,733

 
132,488

Turf & Specialty
22,631

 
27,624

 
109,269

 
117,955

Retail
32,706

 
31,329

 
101,837

 
103,332

Total
$
952,927

 
$
1,181,374

 
$
3,268,303

 
$
4,020,308

 
 
Three months ended
September 30,
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Inter-segment sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grain
$
894

 
$

 
$
4,256

 
$
333

Plant Nutrient
3,401

 
4,243

 
12,929

 
15,955

Rail
109

 
109

 
327

 
318

Turf & Specialty
392

 
516

 
2,033

 
1,869

Total
$
4,796

 
$
4,868

 
$
19,545

 
$
18,475

 
 
Three months ended
September 30,
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Interest expense (income)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grain
$
1,723

 
$
1,391

 
$
7,203

 
$
7,714

Ethanol
77

 
289

 
253

 
895

Plant Nutrient
1,017

 
746

 
2,748

 
2,461

Rail
1,821

 
1,220

 
5,381

 
4,162

Turf & Specialty
338

 
203

 
1,178

 
951

Retail
182

 
152

 
516

 
519

Other
(905
)
 
1,347

 
(878
)
 
(95
)
Total
$
4,253

 
$
5,348

 
$
16,401

 
$
16,607


 
Three months ended
September 30,
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grain
$
10,190

 
$
12,003

 
$
20,541

 
$
24,940

Ethanol
13,727

 
10,174

 
56,090

 
15,051

Total
$
23,917

 
$
22,177

 
$
76,631

 
$
39,991

 
 
Three months ended
September 30,
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Other income (expense), net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grain (a)
$
(2,354
)
 
$
1,216

 
$
16,967

 
$
1,438

Ethanol
71

 
35

 
201

 
465

Plant Nutrient
2,617

 
320

 
3,193

 
459

Rail
792

 
5,031

 
2,289

 
6,679

Turf & Specialty
244

 
135

 
1,018

 
585

Retail
418

 
102

 
720

 
316

Other
(103
)
 
766

 
706

 
1,681

Total
$
1,685

 
$
7,605

 
$
25,094

 
$
11,623

 (a) Increase in the nine months ended balances is related to gain on LTG partial share redemption. See Note 8. Related Party Transactions for details of the LTG gain in the first quarter of 2014.
 
Three months ended
September 30,
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Income (loss) before income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grain
$
12,449

 
$
14,323

 
$
34,110

 
$
24,675

Ethanol
21,253

 
10,904

 
74,981

 
23,984

Plant Nutrient
(129
)
 
(1,643
)
 
23,464

 
21,035

Rail
4,160

 
12,360

 
25,889

 
36,614

Turf & Specialty
(2,885
)
 
(83
)
 
488

 
6,113

Retail
(968
)
 
(2,043
)
 
(1,666
)
 
(3,673
)
Other
(6,804
)
 
(6,309
)
 
(23,595
)
 
(12,563
)
Noncontrolling interests
2,454

 
878

 
10,844

 
1,805

Total
$
29,530

 
$
28,387

 
$
144,515

 
$
97,990



(in thousands)
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
September 30, 2013
Identifiable assets
 
 
 
 
 
Grain
$
713,352

 
$
921,914

 
$
784,869

Ethanol
257,194

 
229,797

 
207,530

Plant Nutrient
252,675

 
268,238

 
258,772

Rail
316,851

 
312,654

 
294,528

Turf & Specialty
84,212

 
89,939

 
71,600

Retail
46,108

 
44,910

 
51,465

Other
412,600

 
406,104

 
213,527

Total
$
2,082,992

 
$
2,273,556

 
$
1,882,291