Note 7. Employee Benefit Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 7.   Employee Benefit Plans

We sponsor two defined benefit pension plans which together cover substantially all U.S. employees.  Net periodic pension cost for the plans consisted of the following for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Service cost	$	993		$	969		$	17		$	14
Interest cost		1,017			1,028			19			19
Expected return on plan assets		(1,145	)		(1,370	)		(22	)		(22	)
Amortization of prior service cost		101			101			48			55
Amortization of net (gain) loss		706			220			(22	)		(32	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,672		$	948		$	40		$	34

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Service cost	$	2,980		$	2,908		$	51		$	41
Interest cost		3,051			3,085			58			58
Expected return on plan assets		(3,435	)		(4,111	)		—			—
Amortization of prior service cost		301			302			33			33
Amortization of net (gain) loss		2,119			660			(22	)		(32	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	5,016		$	2,844		$	120		$	100

The increased service costs in 2012 versus 2011 were driven primarily by higher staffing and compensation levels.

As of September 30, 2012, the Company has made contributions to the pension plans of approximately $1.1 million and intends to contribute an additional $0.9 million in the fourth quarter 2012 for total contributions in 2012 of $2.0 million.