G. Defined Benefit Pension Plans

The Company has non-contributory defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all domestic salaried and hourly employees. These plans were amended as of April 30, 2005; no further benefits have been, or will be, earned under the plans, subsequent to the amendment date, and no additional participants will be added to the plans. Company contributions of $600,000 were paid to the plans during the nine months ended January 31, 2018, and the Company does not expect any contributions to be paid to the plans during the remainder of the fiscal year. Contributions of $555,000 were paid to the plans during the nine months ended January 31, 2017. The Company assumed an expected long-term rate of return of 7.75% for the period ended January 31, 2018 as compared to 8.0% for the period ended January 31, 2017. Pension expense consisted of the following (in thousands):


	Three months ended January 31, 2018			Three months ended January 31, 2017
Service cost	$	-0-		$	-0-
Interest cost		219			232
Expected return on plan assets		(328	)		(311	)
Recognition of net loss		283			314

Net periodic pension expense	$	174		$	235


	Nine months ended January 31, 2018			Nine months ended January 31, 2017
Service cost	$	-0-		$	-0-
Interest cost		687			695
Expected return on plan assets		(984	)		(932	)
Recognition of net loss		849			942

Net periodic pension expense	$	522		$	705