Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Consolidation These Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of The Andersons, Inc. and its wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries (the “Company”). All material intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in unconsolidated entities in which the Company has significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. At inception of joint venture transactions, we identify entities for which control is achieved through means other than voting rights (“variable interest entities” or “VIEs”) and determine which business enterprise is the primary beneficiary of its operations. A VIE is broadly defined as an entity where either (i) the equity investors as a group, if any, do not have a controlling financial interest, or (ii) the equity investment at risk is insufficient to finance that entity’s activities without additional subordinated financial support. The Company consolidates investments in VIEs when the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. This evaluation is based on an enterprise’s ability to direct and influence the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact that entity’s economic performance. The Company evaluates its interests in VIE’s on an ongoing basis and consolidates any VIE in which it has a controlling financial interest and is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. A controlling financial interest has both of the following characteristics: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to it or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. On October 1, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with Marathon Petroleum Corporation to merge The Andersons Albion Ethanol LLC (“TAAE”), The Andersons Clymers Ethanol LLC (“TACE”), The Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC (“TAME”) and the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, The Andersons Denison Ethanol LLC (“TADE”), into a new legal entity, The Andersons Marathon Holdings LLC ("TAMH"). The Company evaluated its interest in TAMH and determined that TAMH is a VIE and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of TAMH due to the fact that the Company had both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact TAMH and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from TAMH. Therefore, the Company consolidated TAMH in its financial statements. On March 2, 2018, the Company invested in ELEMENT. The Company owns 51% of ELEMENT and ICM, Inc. owns the remaining 49% interest. As part of the Company’s investment into ELEMENT, the Company and ICM, Inc. entered into a number of agreements with the entity. Most notably, ICM, Inc. will operate the facility under a management contract and manage the initial construction of the facility, while the Company will provide corn origination, ethanol marketing, and risk management services. The Company evaluated its interest in ELEMENT and determined that ELEMENT is a VIE and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of ELEMENT due to the fact that the Company had both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact ELEMENT and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from ELEMENT. Therefore, the Company consolidates ELEMENT. Use of Estimates and Assumptions The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash Cash and cash equivalents include cash and short-term investments with an initial maturity of three months or less. The carrying values of these assets approximate their fair values. The Company had restricted cash of $8.7 million as of December 31, 2019. The restricted cash balance is a result of an ongoing royalty claim assumed in the TAMH merger and, accordingly, is now in the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company. Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and may bear interest if past due. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the best estimate of the current expected credit losses in existing accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts is reviewed quarterly. The allowance is based both on specific identification of potentially uncollectible accounts and the application of a consistent policy, based on historical experience, to estimate the allowance necessary for the remaining accounts receivable. For those customers that are thought to be at higher risk, the Company makes assumptions as to collectability based on past history and facts about the current situation. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when it becomes more certain that the receivable will not be recovered. The Company manages its exposure to counterparty credit risk through credit analysis and approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures. Commodity Derivatives and Inventories The Company's operating results can be affected by changes to commodity prices. The Trade and Ethanol businesses have established “unhedged” position limits (the amount of a commodity, either owned or contracted for, that does not have an offsetting derivative contract to mitigate the price risk associated with those contracts and inventory). To reduce the exposure to market price risk on commodities owned and forward commodity and ethanol purchase and sale contracts, the Company enters into exchange traded commodity futures and options contracts and over-the-counter forward and option contracts with various counterparties. The forward purchase and sale contracts are for physical delivery of the commodity in a future period. Contracts to purchase commodities from producers generally relate to the current or future crop years for delivery periods quoted by regulated commodity exchanges. Contracts for the sale of commodities to processors or other commercial consumers generally do not extend beyond one year. The Company accounts for its commodity derivatives at fair value. The estimated fair value of the commodity derivative contracts that require the receipt or posting of cash collateral is recorded on a net basis (offset against cash collateral posted or received, also known as margin deposits) within commodity derivative assets or liabilities. Management determines fair value based on exchange-quoted prices and in the case of its forward purchase and sale contracts, fair value is adjusted for differences in local markets and non-performance risk. While the Company considers certain of its commodity contracts to be effective economic hedges, the Company does not designate or account for its commodity contracts as hedges. Realized and unrealized gains and losses in the value of commodity contracts (whether due to changes in commodity prices, changes in performance or credit risk, or due to sale, maturity or extinguishment of the commodity contract) and grain inventories are included in cost of sales and merchandising revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additional information about the fair value of the Company's commodity derivatives is presented in Notes 5 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Grain and other agricultural inventories, which are commodities and may be acquired under provisionally priced contracts, are stated at their net realizable value, which approximates estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. All other inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined by the average cost method. Additional information about inventories is presented in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Derivatives - Master Netting Arrangements Generally accepted accounting principles permit a party to a master netting arrangement to offset fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments against the right to reclaim cash collateral or obligation to return cash collateral under the same master netting arrangement. The Company has master netting arrangements for its exchange traded futures and options contracts and certain over-the-counter contracts. When the Company enters into a futures, options or an over-the-counter contract, an initial margin deposit may be required by the counterparty. The amount of the margin deposit varies by commodity. If the market price of a futures, option or an over-the-counter contract moves in a direction that is adverse to the Company's position, an additional margin deposit, called a maintenance margin, is required. The Company nets, by counterparty, its futures and over-the-counter positions against the cash collateral provided or received. The margin deposit assets and liabilities are included in short-term commodity derivative assets or liabilities, as appropriate, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Additional information about the Company's master netting arrangements is presented in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Derivatives - Interest Rate and Foreign Currency Contracts The Company periodically enters into interest rate contracts to manage interest rate risk on borrowing or financing activities. The Company has long-term interest rate swaps recorded in other assets or other long-term liabilities that expire from 2021 to 2025 and have been designated as cash flow hedges; accordingly, changes in the fair value of the instruments are recognized in other comprehensive income. The Company has other interest rate contracts recorded in other assets that are not designated as hedges. While the Company considers all of its derivative positions to be effective economic hedges of specified risks, these interest rate contracts for which hedge accounting is not applied are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in either other current assets or liabilities (if short-term in nature) or in other assets or other long-term liabilities (if non-current in nature), and changes in fair value are recognized in current earnings as interest expense. Upon termination of a derivative instrument or a change in the hedged item, any remaining fair value recorded on the balance sheet is recorded as interest expense consistent with the cash flows associated with the underlying hedged item. Information regarding the nature and terms of the Company's interest rate derivatives is presented in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Marketing Agreement The Company has a marketing agreement that covers certain of its grain facilities, some of which are leased from Cargill. Under the five-year amended and restated agreement (renewed in June 2018 and ending May 2023), any grain the Company sells to Cargill is at market price. Income earned from operating the facilities (including buying, storing and selling grain and providing grain marketing services to its producer customers) over a specified threshold is shared equally with Cargill. Measurement of this threshold is made on a cumulative basis and cash is paid to Cargill on an annual basis. The Company recognizes its pro rata share of this profit-sharing arrangement as a reduction of revenue in our Consolidated Statements of Operations every month and accrues for any payment owed to Cargill. The impact of the profit-sharing arrangement to the Company's revenues were de minimis, $0.2 million and $3.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Rail Group Assets Leased to Others The Company's Rail Group purchases, leases, markets and manages railcars and barges for third parties and for internal use. Rail Group assets to which the Company holds title are shown on the balance sheet in one of two categories - other current assets (for those that are available for sale) or Rail Group assets leased to others. Rail Group assets leased to others, both on short and long-term leases, are classified as long-term assets and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Railcars have statutory lives of either 40 or 50 years, measured from the date built. Barges have estimated lives of 30 to 40 years, measured from the date built. At the time of purchase, the remaining life is used in determining useful lives which are depreciated on a straight-line basis. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred. Additional information regarding Rail Group assets leased to others is presented in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred, while betterments that extend useful lives are capitalized. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets, by the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives are generally as follows: land improvements - 16 years; leasehold improvements - the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvement, ranging from 3 to 20 years; buildings and storage facilities - 10 to 40 years; and machinery and equipment - 3 to 20 years. The cost of assets retired or otherwise disposed of and the accumulated depreciation thereon are removed from the accounts, with any gain or loss realized upon sale or disposal credited or charged to operations. Additional information regarding the Company's property, plant and equipment is presented in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Deferred Debt Issue Costs Costs associated with the issuance of debt are deferred and recorded net with debt. These costs are amortized, as a component of interest expense, over the earlier of the stated term of the debt or the period from the issue date through the first early payoff date without penalty, or the expected payoff date if the loan does not contain a prepayment penalty. Deferred costs associated with the borrowing arrangement with a syndication of banks are amortized over the term of the agreement. Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill is subject to annual impairment tests or more often when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may be impaired. A goodwill impairment loss is recognized to the extent the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the business enterprise value. Additional information about the Company's goodwill and other intangible assets is presented in Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Acquired intangible assets are recorded at cost, less accumulated amortization, if not indefinite lived. In addition, we capitalize the salaries and payroll-related costs of employees and consultants who devote time to the development of internal-use software projects. If a project constitutes an enhancement to previously-developed software, we assess whether the enhancement is significant and creates additional functionality to the software, thus qualifying the work incurred for capitalization. Once a project is complete, we estimate the useful life of the internal-use software. Changes in our estimates related to internal-use software would increase or decrease operating expenses or amortization recorded during the period. Amortization of intangible assets is provided over their estimated useful lives (generally 1 to 10 years) on the straight-line method. Impairment of Long-lived Assets and Equity Method Investments Long-lived assets, including intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to the undiscounted future net cash flows the Company expects to generate with the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the Company recognizes an impairment loss for the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. The Company reviews its equity method investments to determine whether there has been a decline in the estimated fair value of the investment that is below the Company's carrying value which is other-than-temporary. Other than consideration of past and current performance, these reviews take into account forecasted earnings which are based on management's estimates of future performance. Provisionally Priced Commodity Contracts Accounts payable includes certain amounts related to commodity purchases for which, even though the Company has taken ownership and possession of the commodity the final purchase price has not been fully established. If the futures and basis components are unpriced, it is referred to as a delayed price payable. If the futures component has not been established, but the basis has been set, it is referred to as a basis payable. The unpriced portion of these payables will be exposed to changes in the fair value of the underlying commodity based on quoted prices on commodity exchanges (or basis levels). Those payables that are fully priced are not considered derivative instruments. The Company also enters into contracts with customers for risk management purposes that allow the customers to effectively unprice the futures component of their inventory for a period of time, subjecting the commodities to market fluctuations. The Company records an asset or liability for the market value changes of the commodities over the life of the contracts based on quoted exchange prices. See Note 11 for additional discussion on these instruments. Stock-Based Compensation Stock-based compensation expense for all stock-based compensation awards is based on the estimated grant-date fair value. The Company recognizes these compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, adjusted for revisions to performance expectations. Additional information about the Company's stock compensation plans is presented in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Deferred Compensation Liability Included in accrued expenses are $6.7 million and $7.5 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, of deferred compensation for certain employees who, due to Internal Revenue Service guidelines, may not take full advantage of the Company's qualified defined contribution plan. Assets funding this plan are recorded at fair value in other current assets with changes in the fair value recorded in earnings as a component of other income, net. Changes in the fair value of the deferred compensation liability are reflected in earnings as a component of operating, administrative, and general expenses. Revenue Recognition The Company’s revenue consists of sales from commodity contracts that are accounted for under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815), rental revenues from leases that are accounted for under ASC 842, Leases, and sales of other products and services that are accounted for under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). Revenue from commodity contracts (ASC 815) Revenue from commodity contracts primarily relates to forward sales of commodities in the Company’s Trade and Ethanol segments, such as corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, ethanol, and corn oil, which are accounted for as derivatives at fair value under ASC 815. These forward sales meet the definition of a derivative under ASC 815 as they have an underlying (e.g. the price of corn), a notional amount (e.g. metric tons), no initial net investment and can be net settled since the commodity is readily convertible to cash. The Company does not apply the normal purchase and normal sale exception available under ASC 815 to these contracts. Revenue from commodity contracts is recognized in Sales and merchandising revenues for the contractually stated amount when the contracts are settled. Settlement of the commodity contracts generally occurs upon shipment or delivery of the product, when title and risks and rewards of ownership transfers to the customer. Prior to settlement, these forward sales contracts are recognized at fair value with the unrealized gains or losses recorded within Cost of sales and merchandising revenues. Additional information about the fair value of the Company's commodity derivatives is presented in Notes 5 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. There are certain transactions that allow for pricing to occur after title of the goods has passed to the customer. In these cases, the Company continues to report the goods in inventory until it recognizes the sales revenue once the price has been determined. Direct ship commodity sales (where the Company never takes physical possession of the commodity) are recognized based on the terms of the contract. Certain of the Company's operations provide for customer billings, deposits or prepayments for product that is stored at the Company's facilities. The sales and gross profit related to these transactions are not recognized until the product is shipped in accordance with the previously stated revenue recognition policy and these amounts are classified as a current liability titled “Customer prepayments and deferred revenue”. Revenue from leases (ASC 842) The Company has a diversified fleet of car types (boxcars, gondolas, covered and open top hopper cars, flat cars, tank cars and pressure differential cars), locomotives and barges serving a broad customer base. While most of these assets are owned by the Company, it also leases assets from financial intermediaries through sale-leaseback transactions, the majority of which involve operating leases. The Company's Rail Group leases these assets to customers under operating leases, which includes managing the assets for third parties. In exchange for conveying the right to use these railcars to the lessee, the Company receives a fixed monthly rental payment, which is typically expressed on a “per car” basis in the lease agreement. Revenue from these arrangements is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Certain of the Company's leases include monthly lease fees that are contingent upon some measure of usage (“per diem” leases). This monthly usage is tracked, billed and collected by third-party service providers and funds are generally remitted to the Company along with usage data three months after they are earned. The Company records lease revenue for these per diem arrangements based on recent historical usage patterns and records a true-up adjustment when the actual data is received. Such true-up adjustments were not significant for any period presented. Revenue related to railcar or other asset servicing and maintenance contracts is recognized over the term of the lease or service contract. Revenue from contracts with customers (ASC 606) Revenue from contracts with customers accounted for under ASC 606 is primarily generated in the Plant Nutrient segment through the sale of agricultural and related plant nutrients, corncob-based products, pelleted lime and gypsum products. The Company recognizes revenue from these contracts at a point in time when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of a product to a customer, generally when legal title and risks and rewards of ownership transfer to the customer. Additional information regarding our revenue recognition policy under ASC 606 is presented in Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Rail Lease Accounting The Company recognizes a right of use asset and a corresponding lease liability equal to the present value of the remaining minimum lease payments related to both its operating and finance rail leases. Additional information about leasing activities is presented in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Income Taxes Income tax expense for each period includes current tax expense plus deferred expense, which is related to the change in deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws governing periods in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company evaluates the realizability of deferred tax assets and provides a valuation allowance for amounts that management does not believe are more likely than not to be recoverable, as applicable. The annual effective tax rate is determined by income tax expense from continuing operations as a percentage of pretax book income. Differences in the effective tax rate and the statutory tax rate may be due to permanent items, tax credits, foreign tax rates and state tax rates in jurisdictions in which the Company operates, or changes in valuation allowances. The Company records reserves for uncertain tax positions when, despite the belief that tax return positions are fully supportable, it is anticipated that certain tax return positions are likely to be challenged and that the Company may not prevail. These reserves are adjusted for changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of a tax audit or the lapse of statutes of limitations. Additional information about the Company’s income taxes is presented in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Employee Benefit Plans The Company provides full-time employees hired before January 1, 2003 with postretirement health care benefits. In order to measure the expense and funded status of these employee benefit plans, management makes several estimates and assumptions, including employee turnover rates, anticipated mortality rates and anticipated future healthcare cost trends. These estimates and assumptions are based on the Company's historical experience combined with management's knowledge and understanding of current facts and circumstances. The selection of the discount rate is based on an index given projected plan payouts. Additional information about the Company's employee benefit plans is presented in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Advertising Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense of $2.5 million, $1.9 million and $2.5 million in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively, is included in operating, administrative and general expenses. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") (No. 2016-02, Leases (ASC 842). The FASB issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance in July 2018 with ASU 2018-10 and in August 2018 with ASU 2018-11. ASC 842 supersedes the current accounting for leases. The new standard, while retaining two distinct types of leases, finance and operating, (i) requires lessees to record a right of use asset and a related liability for the rights and obligations associated with a lease, regardless of lease classification, and recognize lease expense in a manner similar to current accounting, (ii) eliminates current real estate specific lease provisions, (iii) modifies the lease classification criteria and (iv) aligns many of the underlying lessor model principles with those in the new revenue standard. Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the standard using the Comparative Under ASC 840 method, which requires lease assets and liabilities to be recognized in the 2019 balance sheet and statement of equity and forgo the comparative reporting requirements under the modified retrospective transition method. The Company also made an accounting policy election to keep short-term leases less than twelve months off the balance sheet for all classes of underlying assets, as well as elected to use the practical expedient that allows the combination of lease and non-lease contract components in all of its underlying asset categories. In addition, the Company elected to apply the package of practical expedients that allows entities to forego reassessing at the transition date: (1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases; (2) lease classification for any expired or existing leases; and (3) whether unamortized initial direct costs for existing leases meet the definition of initial direct costs under the new guidance. See Note 14 for additional information. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows companies to reclassify stranded income tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in their consolidated financial statements. The Company adopted this standard in the current year which did not have a material impact on its financial statements or disclosures. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Effective In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. This ASU reduces the complexity of accounting for costs of implementing a cloud computing service arrangement. This standard aligns the accounting for implementation costs of hosting arrangements, regardless of whether they convey a license to the hosted software. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. We have evaluated the impact of this new standard on our consolidated financial statements noting it is not material. Early adoption is permitted, but the Company does not plan to do so. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The FASB issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance in November 2018, April 2019 and May 2019 with ASU 2018-19, ASU 2019-04 and ASU 2019-05, respectively. This update changes the accounting for credit losses on loans and held-to-maturity debt securities and requires a current expected credit loss (CECL) approach to determine the allowance for credit losses. This includes allowances for trade receivables. We have evaluated the impact of this new standard on our consolidated financial statements noting it is not expected to be material. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. Early adoption is permitted, but the Company does not plan to do so.

These Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of The Andersons, Inc. and its wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries (the “Company”). All material intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in unconsolidated entities in which the Company has significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

At inception of joint venture transactions, we identify entities for which control is achieved through means other than voting rights (“variable interest entities” or “VIEs”) and determine which business enterprise is the primary beneficiary of its operations. A VIE is broadly defined as an entity where either (i) the equity investors as a group, if any, do not have a controlling financial interest, or (ii) the equity investment at risk is insufficient to finance that entity’s activities without additional subordinated financial support. The Company consolidates investments in VIEs when the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. This evaluation is based on an enterprise’s ability to direct and influence the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact that entity’s economic performance.

The Company evaluates its interests in VIE’s on an ongoing basis and consolidates any VIE in which it has a controlling financial interest and is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. A controlling financial interest has both of the following characteristics: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to it or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE.

On October 1, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with Marathon Petroleum Corporation to merge The Andersons Albion Ethanol LLC (“TAAE”), The Andersons Clymers Ethanol LLC (“TACE”), The Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC (“TAME”) and the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, The Andersons Denison Ethanol LLC (“TADE”), into a new legal entity, The Andersons Marathon Holdings LLC ("TAMH"). The Company evaluated its interest in TAMH and determined that TAMH is a VIE and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of TAMH due to the fact that the Company had both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact TAMH and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from TAMH. Therefore, the Company consolidated TAMH in its financial statements.

On March 2, 2018, the Company invested in ELEMENT. The Company owns 51% of ELEMENT and ICM, Inc. owns the remaining 49% interest. As part of the Company’s investment into ELEMENT, the Company and ICM, Inc. entered into a number of agreements with the entity. Most notably, ICM, Inc. will operate the facility under a management contract and manage the initial construction of the facility, while the Company will provide corn origination, ethanol marketing, and risk management services. The Company evaluated its interest in ELEMENT and determined that ELEMENT is a VIE and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of ELEMENT due to the fact that the Company had both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact ELEMENT and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from ELEMENT. Therefore, the Company consolidates ELEMENT.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and may bear interest if past due. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the best estimate of the current expected credit losses in existing accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts is reviewed quarterly. The allowance is based both on specific identification of potentially uncollectible accounts and the application of a consistent policy, based on historical experience, to estimate the allowance necessary for the remaining accounts receivable. For those customers that are thought to be at higher risk, the Company makes assumptions as to collectability based on past history and facts about the current situation. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when it becomes more certain that the receivable will not be recovered. The Company manages its exposure to counterparty credit risk through credit analysis and approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures.

The Company's operating results can be affected by changes to commodity prices. The Trade and Ethanol businesses have established “unhedged” position limits (the amount of a commodity, either owned or contracted for, that does not have an offsetting derivative contract to mitigate the price risk associated with those contracts and inventory). To reduce the exposure to market price risk on commodities owned and forward commodity and ethanol purchase and sale contracts, the Company enters into exchange traded commodity futures and options contracts and over-the-counter forward and option contracts with various counterparties. The forward purchase and sale contracts are for physical delivery of the commodity in a future period. Contracts to purchase commodities from producers generally relate to the current or future crop years for delivery periods quoted by regulated commodity exchanges. Contracts for the sale of commodities to processors or other commercial consumers generally do not extend beyond one year.

The Company accounts for its commodity derivatives at fair value. The estimated fair value of the commodity derivative contracts that require the receipt or posting of cash collateral is recorded on a net basis (offset against cash collateral posted or received, also known as margin deposits) within commodity derivative assets or liabilities. Management determines fair value based on exchange-quoted prices and in the case of its forward purchase and sale contracts, fair value is adjusted for differences in local markets and non-performance risk. While the Company considers certain of its commodity contracts to be effective economic hedges, the Company does not designate or account for its commodity contracts as hedges.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses in the value of commodity contracts (whether due to changes in commodity prices, changes in performance or credit risk, or due to sale, maturity or extinguishment of the commodity contract) and grain inventories are included in cost of sales and merchandising revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additional information about the fair value of the Company's commodity derivatives is presented in Notes 5 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Grain and other agricultural inventories, which are commodities and may be acquired under provisionally priced contracts, are stated at their net realizable value, which approximates estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation.

Generally accepted accounting principles permit a party to a master netting arrangement to offset fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments against the right to reclaim cash collateral or obligation to return cash collateral under the same master netting arrangement. The Company has master netting arrangements for its exchange traded futures and options contracts and certain over-the-counter contracts. When the Company enters into a futures, options or an over-the-counter contract, an initial margin deposit may be required by the counterparty. The amount of the margin deposit varies by commodity. If the market price of a futures, option or an over-the-counter contract moves in a direction that is adverse to the Company's position, an additional margin deposit, called a maintenance margin, is required. The Company nets, by counterparty, its futures and over-the-counter positions against the cash collateral provided or received. The margin deposit assets and liabilities are included in short-term commodity derivative assets or liabilities, as appropriate, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Additional information about the Company's master netting arrangements is presented in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company periodically enters into interest rate contracts to manage interest rate risk on borrowing or financing activities. The Company has long-term interest rate swaps recorded in other assets or other long-term liabilities that expire from 2021 to 2025 and have been designated as cash flow hedges; accordingly, changes in the fair value of the instruments are recognized in other comprehensive income. The Company has other interest rate contracts recorded in other assets that are not designated as hedges. While the Company considers all of its derivative positions to be effective economic hedges of specified risks, these interest rate contracts for which hedge accounting is not applied are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in either other current assets or liabilities (if short-term in nature) or in other assets or other long-term liabilities (if non-current in nature), and changes in fair value are recognized in current earnings as interest expense. Upon termination of a derivative instrument or a change in the hedged item, any remaining fair value recorded on the balance sheet is recorded as interest expense consistent with the cash flows associated with the underlying hedged item. Information regarding the nature and terms of the Company's interest rate derivatives is presented in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company has a marketing agreement that covers certain of its grain facilities, some of which are leased from Cargill. Under the five-year amended and restated agreement (renewed in June 2018 and ending May 2023), any grain the Company sells to Cargill is at market price. Income earned from operating the facilities (including buying, storing and selling grain and providing grain marketing services to its producer customers) over a specified threshold is shared equally with Cargill. Measurement of this threshold is made on a cumulative basis and cash is paid to Cargill on an annual basis. The Company recognizes its pro rata share of this profit-sharing arrangement as a reduction of revenue in our Consolidated Statements of Operations every month and accrues for any payment owed to Cargill. The impact of the profit-sharing arrangement to the Company's revenues were de minimis, $0.2 million and $3.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The Company's Rail Group purchases, leases, markets and manages railcars and barges for third parties and for internal use. Rail Group assets to which the Company holds title are shown on the balance sheet in one of two categories - other current assets (for those that are available for sale) or Rail Group assets leased to others. Rail Group assets leased to others, both on short and long-term leases, are classified as long-term assets and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives.

Railcars have statutory lives of either 40 or 50 years, measured from the date built. Barges have estimated lives of 30 to 40 years, measured from the date built. At the time of purchase, the remaining life is used in determining useful lives which are depreciated on a straight-line basis. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred. Additional information regarding Rail Group assets leased to others is presented in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred, while betterments that extend useful lives are capitalized. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets, by the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives are generally as follows: land improvements - 16 years; leasehold improvements - the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvement, ranging from 3 to 20 years; buildings and storage facilities - 10 to 40 years; and machinery and equipment - 3 to 20 years. The cost of assets retired or otherwise disposed of and the accumulated depreciation thereon are removed from the accounts, with any gain or loss realized upon sale or disposal credited or charged to operations.

Costs associated with the issuance of debt are deferred and recorded net with debt. These costs are amortized, as a component of interest expense, over the earlier of the stated term of the debt or the period from the issue date through the first early payoff date without penalty, or the expected payoff date if the loan does not contain a prepayment penalty. Deferred costs associated with the borrowing arrangement with a syndication of banks are amortized over the term of the agreement.

Goodwill is subject to annual impairment tests or more often when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may be impaired. A goodwill impairment loss is recognized to the extent the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the business enterprise value. Additional information about the Company's goodwill and other intangible assets is presented in Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Acquired intangible assets are recorded at cost, less accumulated amortization, if not indefinite lived. In addition, we capitalize the salaries and payroll-related costs of employees and consultants who devote time to the development of internal-use software projects. If a project constitutes an enhancement to previously-developed software, we assess whether the enhancement is significant and creates additional functionality to the software, thus qualifying the work incurred for capitalization. Once a project is complete, we estimate the useful life of the internal-use software. Changes in our estimates related to internal-use software would increase or decrease operating expenses or amortization recorded during the period.

Long-lived assets, including intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to the undiscounted future net cash flows the Company expects to generate with the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the Company recognizes an impairment loss for the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets.

The Company reviews its equity method investments to determine whether there has been a decline in the estimated fair value of the investment that is below the Company's carrying value which is other-than-temporary. Other than consideration of past and current performance, these reviews take into account forecasted earnings which are based on management's estimates of future performance.

Accounts payable includes certain amounts related to commodity purchases for which, even though the Company has taken ownership and possession of the commodity the final purchase price has not been fully established. If the futures and basis components are unpriced, it is referred to as a delayed price payable. If the futures component has not been established, but the basis has been set, it is referred to as a basis payable. The unpriced portion of these payables will be exposed to changes in the fair value of the underlying commodity based on quoted prices on commodity exchanges (or basis levels). Those payables that are fully priced are not considered derivative instruments.

The Company also enters into contracts with customers for risk management purposes that allow the customers to effectively unprice the futures component of their inventory for a period of time, subjecting the commodities to market fluctuations. The Company records an asset or liability for the market value changes of the commodities over the life of the contracts based on quoted exchange prices. See Note 11 for additional discussion on these instruments.

Stock-based compensation expense for all stock-based compensation awards is based on the estimated grant-date fair value. The Company recognizes these compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, adjusted for revisions to performance expectations. Additional information about the Company's stock compensation plans is presented in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Included in accrued expenses are $6.7 million and $7.5 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, of deferred compensation for certain employees who, due to Internal Revenue Service guidelines, may not take full advantage of the Company's qualified defined contribution plan. Assets funding this plan are recorded at fair value in other current assets with changes in the fair value recorded in earnings as a component of other income, net. Changes in the fair value of the deferred compensation liability are reflected in earnings as a component of operating, administrative, and general expenses.

The Company’s revenue consists of sales from commodity contracts that are accounted for under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815), rental revenues from leases that are accounted for under ASC 842, Leases, and sales of other products and services that are accounted for under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606).

Revenue from commodity contracts primarily relates to forward sales of commodities in the Company’s Trade and Ethanol segments, such as corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, ethanol, and corn oil, which are accounted for as derivatives at fair value under ASC 815. These forward sales meet the definition of a derivative under ASC 815 as they have an underlying (e.g. the price of corn), a notional amount (e.g. metric tons), no initial net investment and can be net settled since the commodity is readily convertible to cash. The Company does not apply the normal purchase and normal sale exception available under ASC 815 to these contracts.

Revenue from commodity contracts is recognized in Sales and merchandising revenues for the contractually stated amount when the contracts are settled. Settlement of the commodity contracts generally occurs upon shipment or delivery of the product, when title and risks and rewards of ownership transfers to the customer. Prior to settlement, these forward sales contracts are recognized at fair value with the unrealized gains or losses recorded within Cost of sales and merchandising revenues. Additional information about the fair value of the Company's commodity derivatives is presented in Notes 5 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

There are certain transactions that allow for pricing to occur after title of the goods has passed to the customer. In these cases, the Company continues to report the goods in inventory until it recognizes the sales revenue once the price has been determined. Direct ship commodity sales (where the Company never takes physical possession of the commodity) are recognized based on the terms of the contract.

Certain of the Company's operations provide for customer billings, deposits or prepayments for product that is stored at the Company's facilities. The sales and gross profit related to these transactions are not recognized until the product is shipped in accordance with the previously stated revenue recognition policy and these amounts are classified as a current liability titled “Customer prepayments and deferred revenue”.

The Company has a diversified fleet of car types (boxcars, gondolas, covered and open top hopper cars, flat cars, tank cars and pressure differential cars), locomotives and barges serving a broad customer base. While most of these assets are owned by the Company, it also leases assets from financial intermediaries through sale-leaseback transactions, the majority of which involve operating leases. The Company's Rail Group leases these assets to customers under operating leases, which includes managing the assets for third parties. In exchange for conveying the right to use these railcars to the lessee, the Company receives a fixed monthly rental payment, which is typically expressed on a “per car” basis in the lease agreement. Revenue from these arrangements is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Certain of the Company's leases include monthly lease fees that are contingent upon some measure of usage (“per diem” leases). This monthly usage is tracked, billed and collected by third-party service providers and funds are generally remitted to the Company along with usage data three months after they are earned. The Company records lease revenue for these per diem arrangements based on recent historical usage patterns and records a true-up adjustment when the actual data is received. Such true-up adjustments were not significant for any period presented.

Revenue from contracts with customers accounted for under ASC 606 is primarily generated in the Plant Nutrient segment through the sale of agricultural and related plant nutrients, corncob-based products, pelleted lime and gypsum products. The Company recognizes revenue from these contracts at a point in time when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of a product to a customer, generally when legal title and risks and rewards of ownership transfer to the customer.

The Company recognizes a right of use asset and a corresponding lease liability equal to the present value of the remaining minimum lease payments related to both its operating and finance rail leases. Additional information about leasing activities is presented in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Income tax expense for each period includes current tax expense plus deferred expense, which is related to the change in deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws governing periods in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company evaluates the realizability of deferred tax assets and provides a valuation allowance for amounts that management does not believe are more likely than not to be recoverable, as applicable.

The annual effective tax rate is determined by income tax expense from continuing operations as a percentage of pretax book income. Differences in the effective tax rate and the statutory tax rate may be due to permanent items, tax credits, foreign tax rates and state tax rates in jurisdictions in which the Company operates, or changes in valuation allowances.

The Company records reserves for uncertain tax positions when, despite the belief that tax return positions are fully supportable, it is anticipated that certain tax return positions are likely to be challenged and that the Company may not prevail. These reserves are adjusted for changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of a tax audit or the lapse of statutes of limitations.

The Company provides full-time employees hired before January 1, 2003 with postretirement health care benefits. In order to measure the expense and funded status of these employee benefit plans, management makes several estimates and assumptions, including employee turnover rates, anticipated mortality rates and anticipated future healthcare cost trends. These estimates and assumptions are based on the Company's historical experience combined with management's knowledge and understanding of current facts and circumstances. The selection of the discount rate is based on an index given projected plan payouts. Additional information about the Company's employee benefit plans is presented in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") (No. 2016-02, Leases (ASC 842). The FASB issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance in July 2018 with ASU 2018-10 and in August 2018 with ASU 2018-11. ASC 842 supersedes the current accounting for leases. The new standard, while retaining two distinct types of leases, finance and operating, (i) requires lessees to record a right of use asset and a related liability for the rights and obligations associated with a lease, regardless of lease classification, and recognize lease expense in a manner similar to current accounting, (ii) eliminates current real estate specific lease provisions, (iii) modifies the lease

classification criteria and (iv) aligns many of the underlying lessor model principles with those in the new revenue standard. Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the standard using the Comparative Under ASC 840 method, which requires lease assets and liabilities to be recognized in the 2019 balance sheet and statement of equity and forgo the comparative reporting requirements under the modified retrospective transition method. The Company also made an accounting policy election to keep short-term leases less than twelve months off the balance sheet for all classes of underlying assets, as well as elected to use the practical expedient that allows the combination of lease and non-lease contract components in all of its underlying asset categories. In addition, the Company elected to apply the package of practical expedients that allows entities to forego reassessing at the transition date: (1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases; (2) lease classification for any expired or existing leases; and (3) whether unamortized initial direct costs for existing leases meet the definition of initial direct costs under the new guidance. See Note 14 for additional information.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows companies to reclassify stranded income tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in their consolidated financial statements. The Company adopted this standard in the current year which did not have a material impact on its financial statements or disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. This ASU reduces the complexity of accounting for costs of implementing a cloud computing service arrangement. This standard aligns the accounting for implementation costs of hosting arrangements, regardless of whether they convey a license to the hosted software. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. We have evaluated the impact of this new standard on our consolidated financial statements noting it is not material. Early adoption is permitted, but the Company does not plan to do so.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The FASB issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance in November 2018, April 2019 and May 2019 with ASU 2018-19, ASU 2019-04 and ASU 2019-05, respectively. This update changes the accounting for credit losses on loans and held-to-maturity debt securities and requires a current expected credit loss (CECL) approach to determine the allowance for credit losses. This includes allowances for trade receivables. We have evaluated the impact of this new standard on our consolidated financial statements noting it is not expected to be material. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. Early adoption is permitted, but the Company does not plan to do so.