EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Components of net periodic benefit cost

The components of net periodic benefit cost for Employers Mutual’s pension and postretirement benefit plans is as follows:

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2013			2012			2013			2012
Pension plans:
Service cost	$	3,303,199		$	3,070,032		$	9,909,597		$	9,289,516
Interest cost	1,914,009			2,200,255			5,742,028			6,614,093
Expected return on plan assets	(4,287,616		)	(3,731,362		)	(12,862,847		)	(11,194,084		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	1,490,590			1,692,028			4,471,771			5,106,432
Amortization of prior service cost	12,582			72,788			37,747			218,364
Net periodic pension benefit cost	$	2,432,764		$	3,303,741		$	7,298,296		$	10,034,321
Postretirement benefit plans:
Service cost	$	1,574,979		$	1,537,530		$	4,724,937		$	4,612,590
Interest cost	1,542,971			1,634,209			4,628,913			4,902,629
Expected return on plan assets	(907,750		)	(804,794		)	(2,723,250		)	(2,414,382		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	923,505			1,002,154			2,770,515			3,006,462
Amortization of prior service credit	(622,781		)	(532,814		)	(1,868,343		)	(1,598,442		)
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost	$	2,510,924		$	2,836,285		$	7,532,772		$	8,508,857